(CNN) – A member of Barack Obama's Kenyan family living in the United States is facing a possible immigration issue: the Associated Press reports that an aunt he speaks about in his memoirs is living in the United States illegally.
The AP says she remain in government housing in Boston, even though an immigration judge denied her request for asylum four years ago.
Zeituni Onyango's refusal to leave the country would be an administrative violation, not a criminal matter.
CNN has not been able to independently verify her immigration status.
The Obama campaign has not yet responded to a CNN request for comment.
Obama called the woman "Aunt Zeituni" in his memoirs, where he described her as the first Kenyan relative he encountered on his visit to his father's home country.
Onyango has donated at least five times to Obama's campaign in July and September, listing her occupation as a "volunteer resident health advocate." Federal campaign finance records indicate several contributions in amounts of $5 and $25.
Updated 11:37 a.m.: Bill Burton, a spokesman for the Obama campaign, issued the following statement in response to the AP's reporting about Sen. Obama's aunt: "Senator Obama has no knowledge of her status but obviously believes that any and all appropriate laws be followed. "
From CNN Politics
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Well folks, it continues. McCain & Palin will keep up the negative personal attacks in order to keep the focus off the isues which they do not have answers to solve the problems that we as Americans face. McCain & Palin want to keep our minds as voters off the issues, because Obama does spell out plans and solutions and McCain & Palin don't have any plans or solutions so they go negative with personal attacks. Well, just a few more days, then McCain & Palin will go down in history as losers. Not just losers of this election, but as losers of any integrity they might have had.
What does this have to do with Obama? Did he sneak her into the country?
I do not think this will affect the election outcome at allllll.please CNN i love your station please stop this now
kazzimm FROM UK
Oh what's the matter you Obama nuts? MY how the comments change when something negative comes out about a negative topic related to Obama.
why do you guys have a problem with comments from canada – you are constantly deleting my comments day after day. I am emailing CNN about this. Your biased and we are neighbors.
Who cares? Leave the poor woman alone...jerks! She's just trying to make it like everyone else! How dare you! Disgust! November 4th can't get here quick enough!
Obama-Biden
Come on CNN. This does not have anything to do with the important issues at hand. Remember McCain, the seed you sow, so shall you reap! You keep sowing these awful seeds! Harvest time is coming for you and your camp!
correction: Last sentence.
What does this say for us?
They can throw at him whatever they want, they can spin it however they want, Tucker Bonds can go on hundreds of shows raging again as long as he wants to, it won't matter this time.
This time hope wins over fear.
Wow, another attempt by the most despicable people in America (namely, anonymous Republican operatives) to introduce an unsubstantiated claim (much like the "Joe the Plumber", tax-evading fraud).
Frankly, if CNN were being responsible, they would have waited for proof of this claim.
Ultimately, what does this have to do with McCain/Palin being unfit to run this country. With McCain/Palin running the most fear-mongering, hate-filled, dishonorable campain in American history.
Something of this nature dropped into the news stream 3 days before a Presidential election smells of the sewer from which most Republican operatives have originated.
send her back to kenya,their is available food in kenya
How low can you go, you jerks! You will know when your feet start burning!
Boy, McCain's "Smear Mongers" are really getting desperate at the 11th hour, aren't they? Is this all they've got?
How sad this kind of thing ends up in the news, with Republicans making a case about it... As if this had anything to do with real issues.
CNN – And you saw it necessary to report something like this? Your intent is clearly shady.
Last I heard Hawaii is in the USA, and was when he was born there.
I like puppies because they are soft and gentle. I really like them.
good news that Obama has an aunt who wants to be in America, not like the Palins who want their state to secede from the US!
Well, the ACORN doesn't fall far from the tree. It's obvious this family has little respect for the law .
as many illegal people that live here from other countries namely south of the texas border and they want to focus on this one person.
No Black American ask to come here! We were forced and therefore, we have more right to be here than anyone else. After all, we helped to build this country with our blood, sweat and tears. Report this for all the bigots out there!
So, Obama doesn't help his Aunt, doesn't care about his brother, but you think he is going to care about you? He is a senator that uses this woman in his book, but can't use his pull for a greencard, or get her a job and out of a slum. This says all you need about who he is...
yeah... so
Im sorry but how does that relate to the job I just lost because of company layoff?
Yet another desperate and meaningless distracion from the real issues that matter to Americans. My vote goes to Obama-Biden.
"The AP says she remain in government housing in Boston, even though an immigration judge denied her request for asylum four years ago. "
So she isn't hiding, she is trying to becom legal...
Why are we talking about her and not the 10000000000000000000
mexican in this country hiding an dnot trying to become legal?