Thread: Obama's aunt has immigration hearing in April

Obama's aunt has immigration hearing in April

By TED BRIDIS and EILEEN SULLIVAN, The Associated Press 3:32 p.m. January 26, 2009

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration quietly withdrew in the weeks after Barack Obama's election a new rule requiring high-level approval before federal agents nationwide could arrest fugitive immigrants. The future for Obama's aunt, who had been living in the country illegally, will be determined at an immigration court hearing in April.

The Homeland Security Department had originally imposed the unusual directive days before Obama's election, an order that would have affected Zeituni Onyango, the half-sister of Obama's late father. She had been instructed to leave the country four years ago by an immigration judge who rejected her request for asylum from her native Kenya.

The directive from Immigration and Customs Enforcement expressed concerns about "negative media or congressional interest," according to a newly disclosed federal document obtained by The Associated Press.

The department lifted the immigration order weeks later, on Nov. 26.
The directive made clear that U.S. officials worried about possible election implications of arresting Onyango, who at the time was living in public housing in Boston. She is now believed to be living in Cleveland.
An immigration judge stayed her deportation order on Dec. 17. The judge reopened her case requesting asylum on Dec. 30, and she has a hearing on April 1 in a Boston immigration court, Elaine Komis, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Executive Office of Immigration Review, said Monday.

Onyango traveled to Washington last week for her nephew's inauguration. News organizations observed her attending an inaugural ball with her immigration lawyer, Margaret Wong.

Several years ago, Obama's aunt has sought asylum from Kenya. The East African nation has been fractured by violence in recent years, including a period of two months of bloodshed after December 2007 that killed 1,500 people.

Obama has said he didn't know his aunt was living in the United States illegally and believed that laws covering the situation should be followed.

The chronology of events means there was a brief window – between Nov. 26 and Dec. 17 – when immigration agents could have arrested and deported Onyango without obtaining the high-level approval required in the government's Oct. 31 directive.

A copy of that directive, "Fugitive Case File Vetting Prior to Arrest," was released to the AP just over two months after it was requested under the Freedom of Information Act. It does not mention President Obama or any members of his extended family.

The immigration directive was lifted weeks after the election, according to an internal e-mail provided Monday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE spokeswoman Kelly Nantel previously had told the AP the directive was still in place, and the White House told the AP late Sunday that Obama would consider whether to overturn it.

The White House said late Sunday that the Obama administration wasn't briefed on why the directive was issued. It said Obama "has not contacted any government agency regarding Ms. Onyango's case, nor has any representative of the president."

The directive was "effective immediately and until further notice," and required that immigration agents obtain approval from ICE field office directors or deputy directors before arresting fugitives.

"A hold on any actions to proceed with arrest will be placed in the case file until I can review the case and evaluate the impact of the potential media or congressional interest," wrote the assistant field operations director for immigrant detention and removal.
–––
Associated Press writer JoAnne Viviano in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this story.

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/ ... ndex=43084

Dear Me Isn't an aunt immediate family. Why hasn't he and Michelle sponsored her?

Who Can I Sponsor for a Green Card?

vidagolaw on Dec 3rd 2007

The answer depends on whether you are a permanent resident (green card holder) or a U.S. Citizen. U.S. Citizens can sponsor additional family members that green card holders cannot sponsor. Additionally, U.S. Citizens can petition for a fiance/fiancee to come to the U.S. to be married, while a green card holder is not given the same privilege. The person filing the petition is called the Petitioner. The person you are filing for is called the Beneficiary.

Your Status * Who You Can Petition Beneficiary’s Category

Citizen * Husband/Wife Immediate Relative
Citizen * (& you are at least 21) Parent Immediate Relative
Citizen * Unmarried Child Under 21 Immediate Relative
Citizen * Unmarried Son/Daughter 21 & over Preference Relative
Citizen * Married Son/Daughter of any age Preference Relative
Citizen * (& you are at least 21) Brother/Sister Preference Relative
Green Card Holder * Husband/Wife Preference Relative
Green Card Holder * Unmarried Son/Daughter of any age Preference Relative

What is the difference between an Immediate Relative and Preference Relative?

An immediate relative has an immigrant visa (green card) immediately available to them. An immediate relative does not have to wait for an immigrant visa number to be available. Once a visa petition is filed for an immediate relative and the petition is approved by USCIS, the visa will be immediately available. The wait involved for an immediate relative is due to the green card processing time. In contrast, a preference relative does not have the benefit of an immediately available immigrant visa number. A preference relative must wait for a visa number to become available which can be several years, even more than a decade in some circumstances. The preference categories and current average waiting periods are outlined below:

Preference Relative Preference Category Average Wait Time

Unmarried Son/Daughter 21 & over of U.S. Citizen Family First Preference 6 Years (15 Years for Mexico & Philippines)

Husband/Wife and Unmarried Son/Daughter of any age of Green Card Holder Family Second Preference 5 Years for Husband/Wife and children under 21 (10 Years/16 Years for Mexico for Unmarried Son/Daughter 21 & over)

Married Son/Daughter of U.S. Citizen Family Third Preference 8 Years (16 Years for Mexico)

Brother/Sister of U.S. Citizen Family Fourth Preference 11 Years (14 Years for Mexico/22 Years for Philippines)

The wait times are determined by checking current priority dates. The U.S. Department of State posts the priority dates, monthly in a chart called the Visa Bulletin. The posted wait times can change from month to month. Countries such as Mexico, India and the Philippines have longer waiting times since the demand for immigrant visas are higher than in other countries.

http://www.vidagolaw.com/blog/who-can-i ... reen-card/

Originally Posted by vmonkey56

Dear Me Isn't an aunt immediate family. Why hasn't he and Michelle sponsored her?

Wow, wouldn't that show how messed up and open for abuse our immigration system has become? " Aunt lives in US illegally for years, defies court order, draws welfare benefits---and then gets sponsored for LPR by powerful family member."

If her hearing is in April then she needs to be arrested, held in detention until she sees a judge for bond and then be released on an ankle bracelet until then.

After all, obama says this case should be handled just like every other one and.......well.......one must obey orders from the king you know

Several years ago, Obama's aunt has sought asylum from Kenya. The East African nation has been fractured by violence in recent years, including a period of two months of bloodshed after December 2007 that killed 1,500 people.

Her request was denied, she was issued an order of deportation which she ignored therefore making her a fugitive and a criminal.

Giving her a new "trial" because of who she is will be discriminating against other illegal aliens who have defied deportation orders, where caught and deported. Obama WILL be blamed and the backlash will not be so easily ignored. DEPORT her NOW!

RELATED

Obama's illegal alien aunt deportation order halted
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-144256.html

Originally Posted by miguelina

Several years ago, Obama's aunt has sought asylum from Kenya. The East African nation has been fractured by violence in recent years, including a period of two months of bloodshed after December 2007 that killed 1,500 people.

beside being Obama's aunt, what the hell makes this woman special that she gets a second hearing??? do other illegals get this same chance?

Originally Posted by vmonkey56

Dear Me Isn't an aunt immediate family. Why hasn't he and Michelle sponsored her?

Probably because Obama isnt an American citizen.

Originally Posted by vmonkey56

Dear Me Isn't an aunt immediate family. Why hasn't he and Michelle sponsored her?

Because it's cheaper to allow the American tax payer to "sponser" her, which is exactly what has been happening for the past four years while she ignored an order of deportation while living in public housing. God only knows what else she was receiving in the way of additional perks.

The good news is that we finally know where to find her (or atleast forward her mail ) in the event the government wants to send her some additional financial relief. Her new address is:

Zeituni Onyango
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500