i hope that no one thinks this is a big story

Obama says he didn't know aunt's illegal status

CHICAGO – Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Saturday he didn't know that one of his relatives was living in the United States illegally and believes the appropriate laws should be followed.

The Associated Press found that Obama's aunt 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 woman, Zeituni Onyango (zay-TUHN on-YANG-oh), is living in public housing in Boston and is the half-sister of Obama's late father.

A statement given to the AP by Obama's campaign said, "Senator Obama has no knowledge of her status but obviously believes that any and all appropriate laws be followed."

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A half sister of his late father, a man he barely knew? Not someone that I would expect him to be especially close to. I can't imagine that he can keep track of everyone who is somehow related to him.