Deportation Sought for Obama's Uncle

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials continue to pursue a deportation case against Onyango Obama, the president’s uncle, who works at in North Grafton.

“Now that Mr. Onyango’s criminal case has completed, ICE has communicated, in accordance with standard procedure, with the attorney of record regarding his removal pursuant to a previous final order by an immigration judge,” Brian P. Hale, Director of Public Affairs for ICE, said in a statement.

Mr. Obama has said he would fight efforts to deport him to his native Kenya.

A representative from the office of Mr. Obama’s immigration attorney, Margaret Wong of Cleveland, said today that the firm had no comment on the case.

Mr. Obama was granted a hardship license yesterday from the Registry of Motor Vehicles that allows him to drive to his two jobs, one at Five Star Liquors in Grafton and the other at Conti Liquors in Framingham. He is the half-brother of the president’s father.

He works at the job from noon to 11:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, according to a letter sent from Obama’s supervisor to the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

Obama needs his license to come to work because he cannot get to the work sites by public transportation, the supervisor, whose identity was not revealed, wrote in the letter.

“He needs his license to fulfill his managerial duties, including going to the bank for deposits, meeting with suppliers and picking up merchandise from other locations in the course of his workday.’’

Obama was granted a hardship license following a hearing yesterday at the Registry’s Wilmington branch, said Sara Lavoie, press secretary for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

“In general, hearing officers weigh a driver’s record, specific offense and the hardship asserted by that driver,’’ she said in a prepared statement. “In this instance, the driver also provided the necessary documentation to receive a hardship license: proof of enrollment in an alcohol treatment program and a letter from his employer. The hardship [license] is valid from noon to midnight to accommodate the work schedule set by the employer.” 

The registry deals strictly with issues within its scope, she said.

“Applicants for a license in Massachusetts are required to present a verifiable Social Security number,’’ she said. “Matters of immigration are matters for law enforcement and the federal government.’’