APNewsBreak: Obama's aunt to fight to stay in US

[GetTheRightVote]

Source: Associated Press Reports

How much truth is there to this news report ? Are his, Obama's, relatives actually being allowed to break our laws ? As President shouldn't he being doing something about this situation before it makes him look bad ? Soft on illegal aliens entering our borders. I hope there is no truth to this information.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081107/ap_on_el_pr/obama_aunt;_ylt=Avu9nfWYyb6V9D9KGmJD6EuyFz4D

[sharp_stick]

1. What

why would Obama's relatives be able to break "our" laws? Obama isn't shrub and he aint the President yet so I don't think he can give her any special treatment even if he wanted to.

On your edit: Soft on illegal aliens entering our borders? WTF, he already answered this shit during the campaign.

[GetTheRightVote]

3. Ok then what is the answer to my question that he has already answered then

I am a true blue American and I am tried of watching my neighbors, family and friends losing their jobs to people who should not be able to take them. I am tired of watching Unions get broken because Corporations hire these law breaking illegal workers or their country's citizens because they want to hold down our wages but run up the prices of the goods we pay from them.

It is an old story that comes out of the hills of Tennessee and so many other states. Why should we owe our souls to the company store on the behalf of people who should not be living in our nation. I certainly would not feel good about an elected Official like our President to be allowing this to happen with in his own family and it's membership.

So please let me know what he has to say about it. I am extremely interested in knowing since I voted for the man just a few days ago.

[sharp_stick]

5. He said

"I expect the law to be followed" pretty plain and simple IMO the day the story broke. He also said he didn't realize she was here illegally.

[Christa]

18. You gotta be kidding

A True Blue American? So I can take it that you are Native American?

Because if you are not, you are a descendant of immigrants. This old lady is not "taking your job", let's get real here.

[GetTheRightVote]

19. Yes, I am native American as in Indian, thank you.

But immigrants are here because they were accepted into the country thru Ellis Island otherwise they were in the military serving the nation. Either way they did it they were brought on board using a legal or acceptable path to this country's citizenship.

Otherwise, they did not come here legally and in doing so broke the laws of the land. I have never said that we never ever had a time we did not have illegal aliens. All I am saying is that we should not have them and especially not if they are people used by the money grabbing Corporations who encourage them taking jobs from people who were born here and who did not break any laws that simply want a job with a living wage.

:kick:

[DemFromMem]

21. She was a political asylum applicant

No corporation tried to bring her here. Incidentally, as a Native American, surely you have a special understanding of why treaties should be honored. We're obligated under the UN Convention on Refugees to accept asylees and refugees. That international treaty was signed after the Holocaust because of the shameful record of our government denying entry to people being subject to mass murder during the World War II years. Asylees and refugees are legally processing in the US just like the Ellis Island folks were. If you're just anti-immigrant, then this argument probably won't matter.

I don't know about the quality of the case here, but Ms. Wong is looking at reopening it. At first I thought she didn't have a lawyer, but see from the article she had someone. But that doesn't mean the lawyer was competent and if Margaret Wong can demonstrate to a judge that she was not competently represented, then she may have some hope. Sometimes and immigration lawyer can also negotiate a departure from the US that will allow someone to eventually come back legally as opposed to having a deportation on the record that permanently bars coming back.

[GetTheRightVote]

24. My son-in-law who is married to my eldest daughter is from Africa

and he is telling me that he is not aware of anything going on that would need this type of action on her part to stay in this country. He does tell me that many of his relatives would love to come here and that this country is viewed very positively by them and that many others are here illegally as well over staying initial visitor or student visas. Oh by the way, he came here as a student on a legal student visa. He now has a green card with my daughter's help and who will be using the correct path to become a legal citizen. The visits with the INS etc. I have no problem with this type of situation and since they love each other of course they wish to be together. In fact, I one day will have a grand-child from this union I am sure. In fact, I can not wait just like any other loving grand-parent/mother, that day can not come soon enough for me. My family lives on in such immigrantion growth periods. I too love my son-in-law. He is the best thing that ever happened to my daughter.

So once again ..... what is the deal with illegal aliens/relatives to an elected official remaining in the country ? I would really hate to have voted for someone who allows law breakers to remain illegally in this nation. If my son-in-law became illegal for what ever reason, he would have to go home as far as I am concerned. The law is the law period, we all have to live by it or we are not a civilization base on the foundation of principles based in law.

:kick:

[DemFromMem]

27. Well, if your son-in-law says so...

I guess we can chuck due process. Give me a break. We're Democrats, remember?

[yellowcanine]

2. "As President"...... Well for one, Obama is not President. He has no power as President-Elect.

Secondly, if he were President, it would be inappropriate for him to insert himself into an issue involving his aunt. Think Sarah Palin and her ex-brother-in-law if you think I am wrong.....

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. Why was she denied asylum in the first place?

I haven't seen anything on that.

[marshall]

9. What reason would one have to request asylum from Kenya?

I'm not aware of any widespread human rights violations there.

[Mithreal]

15. Really, you aren't aware of WIDESPREAD violations?

Do you really read what you write.

I hope you were not joking.

Do you know how to use Google?

http://hrw.org/doc/?t=africa&c=kenya

[marshall]

22. I"m talking on a relative level

I realize there are human rights violations everywhere, including the United States. At least that's the viewpoint I think the people who make such decisions about asylum into the United States would be taking.

[Mithreal]

23. So why come to the United States when human rights violations

occur here as well? I do not understand your point at all.

[marshall]

30. So true--it happens everywhere

There are other places worse than Kenya. The government there at least claims to be dealing with the problem, with such groups as Amnesty International calling on investigations.
I was surmising that whoever makes the decisions on asylum does so on some kind of scale of comparision. It's like triage--there are only so many slots and that means there may not be room for everyone who applies.

[Mithreal]

31. America has behaved shamefully

If we were doing triage why haven't we let more Iraqui refugees in? We created the mess there and those refugees are living in conditions so horrid it is hard for me to speak of them.

Instead we are doing everything to prevent even people who helped Americans from finding refuge here. Don't think for even a minute that freedom, love, mercy, justice or even triage is part of our policies.

I am willing to commit civil disobedience because I know America is better. We should be demanding changes to these policies now.

So many slots, huh? So let's help make the world a better place so that so many slots won't be needed.

[curse of greyface]

25. Um in kenya they have been known to force a villages woman and children into a church

And then set the church on fire.

[jwirr]

17. Haven't you heard about the recent blood bathes that happened there

lately? He has already said that the Immigrations should act on this case. What else can he do? She also has the right to appeal the decision. Does anyone know what kind of work she was supposed to be doing here? It would be interesting to know as I know from my own families experience with this kind of problem - they often are working as a housekeeper for some rich family.

[treestar]

29. Could be Female Genital Mutilation

Read up on human rights - that's an issue there.

Read up on the news - Kenya had some violence a while back.

Asylum is individually based - things can happen to people, and her original claim could have been years ago.

Though as a relative of Obama, right now anyway, it is unlikely she'd be subjected to persecution now. Probably the opposite.

[Mithreal]

6. The AP is rubbish.

If you want slanted news, listen to the AP.

[Mithreal]

7. Anyone who attacks Obama for his aunt, can take a long walk

off a short cliff for all I care.

It really pisses me off when people attack him for what his relatives or people he knows do or are accused of doing.

If it were up to me, folks who do that should be banned from DU for their overwhelming stupidity.

[armodem08]

8. Actually, this is entirely within the law.

The fact that someone leaked her request for asylum makes it much more likely that she would be tortured or persecuted once she is repatriated, making it much more probable that she will be granted asylum upon further review. Heckuva job, shrub!

[soccermomforobama]

16. That is the same thing I thought once the leak was out.

[Rancid Crabtree]

10. Why?

A judge ruled in 2004...seems to me another administration was in power at the time...one that vowed to keep us safe, etc, etc, ad infinitum...and it's a hoot to hear people suggest the Bush admin. "leaked" her status...ah, yeah, we're the Bush administration and we're trying to keep track of shit like this...and oh by the way, we obviously aren't doing what we claim to be doing...what is there...some gadzillion "illegal" aliens in the country...so much for the idea that our country is looked down on...what with all these "illegals" wanting to live here...if the shitheads that are supposed to enforce the law saw no reason to put her on a slow ship to parts unknown back in 2004, why should we care now, in 2008? Sounds like she made a life for herself. Let's get interested in something more important...like trying to figure out why those shitheads on Wall Street managed to fuck up the country so much.

[Mithreal]

11. It's a distraction intended to weaken Obama's support. nt

[struggle4progress]

12. Rightwing Boston Herald is reporting she hasn't been seen since before the elections

Before the elections, she said she wouldn't comment on anything until after the elections

AFAIK, we really haven't got anything solid on her immigration status except an anonymous leak from the Bush administration which may not be accurate or which may cherry-pick the story

[Bette Noir]

13. I have no patience when the yahoo sons and daughters of immigrants

take issue with more recent immigrants. End of message.

[rateyes]

14. She applied for political asylum. Her case is still open.

And, fuck those that leaked this damned story. She has the right to fight deportation.

[DemFromMem]

20. I know Margaret Wong

She's a very respected lawyer in Cleveland and well known nationally in the immigration bar (and a good Democrat!).

[stillcool]

26. Did you read the article?

or are you just a run of the mill shit stirrer?

[treestar]

28. She was ordered deported 4 years ago, during the * Administration

Why is she still here? Answer: The * Administration does not enforce these laws.

Or maybe she had the case on appeal? Does anyone ever look into that? It is possible for an appeal to take more than 4 years.

Of course people are "allowed" to break the law, so long as they aren't caught. Here, she was caught! She is "allowed" to break any law the government does not enforce.

If the laws were self executing we wouldn't need a legal system.

Next time you notice yourself to be driving over the speed limit, send a check voluntarily in for the fine amount.