Saturday, 8 November 2008

Obama's Aunt To Fight To Stay In US

Lawyer Says Aunt Believes Someone Leaked Info To Hurt Obama's Candidacy

POSTED: 2:34 pm EST November 7, 2008

An immigration lawyer for President-elect Barack Obama's aunt said she wants to fight a deportation order and stay in the United States.

The Associated Press found that Zeituni Onyango is staying with relatives in Cleveland after fleeing her public housing apartment in Boston. She had been living there for five years.

Onyango, who is Obama's father's half-sister, was ordered to leave the country in 2004 by an immigration judge who rejected her request for asylum from her native Kenya.

Cleveland attorney Margaret Wong told the AP on Friday she is exploring legal options and may file a motion to reopen Onyango's case. She said Onyango is upset because she believes someone leaked information about her immigration status to try to hurt Obama's candidacy.