Leak re Obama’s Aunt Endangers Her and Her Family
Sunday, November 02, 2008 at 12:06 pm
By now, most people have heard about The Associated Press report that Sen. Barack Obama has a distant aunt –- his deceased father’s half-sister -– living in Boston who is an undocumented alien. They may also know that Zeituni Onyango, from Kenya, was denied political asylum by an immigration judge four years ago.
As Josh Micah Marshall at Talking Points Memo reported Saturday, Rep John Conyers (D-Mich), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee wrote an angry letter to Michael Chertoff, secretary of the Dept. of Homeland Security, saying the disclosure, by at least one “federal law enforcement official,” according to The AP, was “very disturbing” and warrants an investigation.
In fact, the disclosure wasn’t just disturbing –- it was either illegal, or it was approved directly by the U.S. attorney general. And, it endangered Onyango and any of her family that continue to live in Kenya.
According to the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, 8 CFR 208.6, it is illegal to disclose that a noncitizen has applied for political asylum, without her explicit consent “or at the discretion of the attorney general.”
The Supreme Court, in United States v. Ray, explained the reason: because the applicant or her family could be subject to retaliation in their home country.
As an immigration authority fact sheet, cited by the court, explains: “Public disclosure of asylum-related information may subject the claimant to retaliatory measures by government authorities or non-state actors in the event that the claimant is repatriated, or endanger the security of the claimant’s family members who may still be residing in the country of origin.”
According to Amnesty International, the last year in Kenya has seen a crisis of deadly political violence and grave human rights violations.
In other words, this leak wasn’t just a typical ugly attack against the Democratic presidential nominee — it may have been an unusually dangerous one.
26 Comments
Comment posted November 2, 2008 @ 9:34 am
Rep John Conyers said it was illegal which part the part where Obamas campaign took money from her or where she was in the country illeagally
Comment posted November 2, 2008 @ 11:23 am
It seems likely that Julie Myers may have leaked the information. She has a grudge against one of Obama's campaign managers. Google Rolling Stone.
Comment posted November 2, 2008 @ 11:45 am
All this business about Obama’s aunt is sad. I have compassion for the old gal. She is now suffering humiliation and the blistering light of our mainstream media. This is wrongful.
Yes, she should have worked on becoming a legal immigrant, but this is difficult. She probably could have become an American citizen had she worked hard at this. I do not know much about our immigration laws, doubtful many of you readers know much about this topic. Correct my thinking on this if I am wrong. I invite this.
My understanding is this old gal could become a citizen if she has a sponsor. This is, if an American or an American family document they will take her in, take care of her and take all those steps needed to find her employment, income, a place to live, all that, under circumstances like this, I “think” she could become an American citizen.
I do not know for sure. Again, I am very ignorant of immigration laws. Maybe a reader can clarify and add to this issue.
There is a cultural perspective worthy of mention. Our traditional peoples, we American Indians, are well known for taking in others in need, those of our bloodline. Not all of us do, but a majority of us do. This is especially true up in the Lakotas where our peoples are the most impoverished peoples of our nation. Not uncommon at all for ten, twenty or more people to be living under one roof. Sioux, Cheyenne, Crow, other tribes in the Lakota region, are well known for taking in those in need, no matter how distant the blood relationship.
This prompts me to wonder why Obama has not offered to take in his aunt, has not offered to sponsor her or employ some other method of helping her earn citizenship. I am sure there is something Obama can do, some law, some loophole, something he can do to help her.
Why has Obama not taken steps to help his aunt? He has certainly enjoyed plenty of time. Heck, years back he could have secretly whisked her away, made arrangements for her care. I tend to think not many would criticize Obama for an act of compassion, especially with her being old and at a disadvantage in our country. I do not know, maybe he would be critiqued. Personally, I would not fault Obama for helping his aunt in need; I would turn a blind eye.
Suppose this a cultural difference. Our peoples, if a distant relative, would have taken her in, right off. Not only taken her in, we would have also hidden her from authorities.
I suppose Obama is not willing to take a risk in the name of family compassion. Appears Obama is calling for his aunt to be deported back to Kenya. Odds are high, she will die back in Kenya.
I suppose her life is not as important as the presidency, to Obama.
Okpulot Taha
Choctaw Nation
Comment posted November 2, 2008 @ 3:18 pm
As lawyers would say, it's a prosecutor's job to differentiate conduct. Illegal residency and an illegal pittance of a campaign donation aren't in the same league as a high-ranking government official's leaking someone's immigration status when such a leak could lead to someone's death.
Heaven forbid anything happens to Obama's aunt, but if some nut decided to be a vigilante, the official who leaked Obama's aunt's immigration status could be charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Comment posted November 2, 2008 @ 7:07 pm
The Bush administration leaked Valerie Plame's identity and that was not only dangerous, we lost a good information gathering agent too. Cheney and Bush have no regard for this country or its laws. They will toss people away and burn the country so they and their friends can accumulate wealth and power.
Comment posted November 2, 2008 @ 7:52 pm
Purl Gurl,
Actually, only members in one's “immediate family” can act as a “sponsor” on the person's immigration application. As Obama's father's half sister, she is not considered “immediate family” member under US immigration law.
I have a half cousin whom I would love to bring to the States to live with me as well, but I cannot be her sponsor because of this “immediate family” definition in the law.
hope this help.
Comment posted November 2, 2008 @ 7:53 pm
Purl Gurl,
Actually, only members in one's “immediate family” can act as a “sponsor” on the person's immigration application. As Obama's father's half sister, she is not considered “immediate family” member under US immigration law.
I have a half cousin whom I would love to bring to the States to live with me as well, but I cannot be her sponsor because of this “immediate family” definition in the law.
hope this help.
Comment posted November 2, 2008 @ 9:23 pm
FYI: Joe Wilson showed off his trophy CIA wife a long time before her name was “leaked' to the public. She had been out of active “agent” status for a number of years, unless she was doing undercover work while she was pregnant and then taking care of her twins in McLean, Va.
Also, it may turn out, according to many people who have written about the intelligence field, that she was once a field agent but was then a desk jockey intelligence analyst. Her “information gathering” days were long behind her when her name was printed but just because a person mentions a name, it doesn't mean that the newspapers have to publish it.
If she were an active covert operative at the time that it was published, Novak and others should have, in theory, if not in practice, been prosecuted under the Intelligence Agents Identity Act of 1983/84, but they weren't because she was not a covert agent at the time.
Also, since she drove to the CIA's headquarters in Langley, Va. every day for work, don't you think that some reporter hadn't already noted Plame's license plate number and had it tracked to here. The car was parked at Joe Wilson's home, where she lived as his wife, and this was well known to all.
Your comment shows a complete lack of knowledge of how an “intelligence agent” operates, overt or covert.
Comment posted November 2, 2008 @ 9:31 pm
Please, she's in no danger. Send the illegal back. Now!
Comment posted November 2, 2008 @ 9:37 pm
Bullshit, you brainless turds.
The London Times found out about auntie after Obama blabbed about her in his crappy book.
The old battle axe needs to be deported back to Kenya.
McCain/Palin!!!!!!!!!
Comment posted November 2, 2008 @ 9:39 pm
Idiot.
This was all tracked by reporters from the London Times when That One bragged about his “favorite aunt” in his shitty book.
Comment posted November 2, 2008 @ 10:24 pm
Regarding the Rolling Stone “report”, that was purely speculation and their “reporter” didn't even bother to contact those he smeared. That's sub-blog level 'reporting”.
And, the latest news is that the wonderful humanitarian BHO supports his aunt being deported:
http://24ahead.com/blog/archives/008288.html
That come after him repeatedly opposing the deportation of millions of other illegal aliens.
BHO: keep millions of illegal aliens here, but send Auntie home.
What a wonderful person.
Comment posted November 3, 2008 @ 2:54 am
According to the link below, Obama's Aunt was found by “The Times”, see link below. They detail how they found her.
How The Times followed a trail to find Barack Obama’s aunt
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_…
Comment posted November 3, 2008 @ 3:07 am
The Bush administration leaked Valerie Plame's identity and that was not only dangerous, we lost a good information gathering agent too. Cheney and Bush have no regard for this country or its laws. They will toss people away and burn the country so they and their friends can accumulate wealth and power.
Comment posted November 3, 2008 @ 3:52 am
Purl Gurl,
Actually, only members in one's “immediate family” can act as a “sponsor” on the person's immigration application. As Obama's father's half sister, she is not considered “immediate family” member under US immigration law.
I have a half cousin whom I would love to bring to the States to live with me as well, but I cannot be her sponsor because of this “immediate family” definition in the law.
hope this help.
Comment posted November 3, 2008 @ 3:53 am
Purl Gurl,
Actually, only members in one's “immediate family” can act as a “sponsor” on the person's immigration application. As Obama's father's half sister, she is not considered “immediate family” member under US immigration law.
I have a half cousin whom I would love to bring to the States to live with me as well, but I cannot be her sponsor because of this “immediate family” definition in the law.
hope this help.
Comment posted November 3, 2008 @ 5:23 am
FYI: Joe Wilson showed off his trophy CIA wife a long time before her name was “leaked' to the public. She had been out of active “agent” status for a number of years, unless she was doing undercover work while she was pregnant and then taking care of her twins in McLean, Va.
Also, it may turn out, according to many people who have written about the intelligence field, that she was once a field agent but was then a desk jockey intelligence analyst. Her “information gathering” days were long behind her when her name was printed but just because a person mentions a name, it doesn't mean that the newspapers have to publish it.
If she were an active covert operative at the time that it was published, Novak and others should have, in theory, if not in practice, been prosecuted under the Intelligence Agents Identity Act of 1983/84, but they weren't because she was not a covert agent at the time.
Also, since she drove to the CIA's headquarters in Langley, Va. every day for work, don't you think that some reporter hadn't already noted Plame's license plate number and had it tracked to here. The car was parked at Joe Wilson's home, where she lived as his wife, and this was well known to all.
Your comment shows a complete lack of knowledge of how an “intelligence agent” operates, overt or covert.
Comment posted November 3, 2008 @ 5:31 am
Please, she's in no danger. Send the illegal back. Now!
Comment posted November 3, 2008 @ 5:37 am
Bullshit, you brainless turds.
The London Times found out about auntie after Obama blabbed about her in his crappy book.
The old battle axe needs to be deported back to Kenya.
McCain/Palin!!!!!!!!!
Comment posted November 3, 2008 @ 5:39 am
Idiot.
This was all tracked by reporters from the London Times when That One bragged about his “favorite aunt” in his shitty book.
Comment posted November 3, 2008 @ 6:24 am
Regarding the Rolling Stone “report”, that was purely speculation and their “reporter” didn't even bother to contact those he smeared. That's sub-blog level 'reporting”.
And, the latest news is that the wonderful humanitarian BHO supports his aunt being deported:
http://24ahead.com/blog/archives/008288.html
That comes after him repeatedly opposing the deportation of millions of other illegal aliens.
BHO: keep millions of illegal aliens here, but send Auntie home.
What a wonderful person.
Comment posted November 3, 2008 @ 10:54 am
According to the link below, Obama's Aunt was found by “The Times”, see link below. They detail how they found her.
How The Times followed a trail to find Barack Obama’s aunt
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_…
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