President Obama's Aunt passes away as an Illegal Immigrant in the U.S.

source:RolandMartin/NewsOne

An aunt of President Barack Obama who was denied asylum in the U.S. but stayed illegally for years has died in Massachusetts. Zeituni Onyango was 61.

Cleveland attorney Margaret Wong represented Onyango in her immigration case. She says Onyango died Tuesday in a Boston rehabilitation center. She says Onyango was being treated for cancer and respiratory problems.

Onyango moved to the U.S. from Kenya in 2000 and was denied asylum by an immigration judge in 2004. She remained in the country illegally, living in Boston public housing. Her immigration status was reported by The Associated Press days before Obama’s election in 2008.