John Lennon and Yoko Ono Attend US Immigration Hearing – 17 May 1972

May 16, 2026

John Lennon and Yoko Ono Attend US Immigration Hearing – 17 May 1972

Wednesday 17 May 1972 | John Lennon, Legal
Immigration and Naturalization Service, New York City

On 17 May 1972, John Lennon and Yoko Ono attended an immigration hearing in New York City — a follow-up to the hearing of 12 May, at which Lennon had testified. On this occasion both Lennon and Ono took the stand. Lennon made a personal plea for mercy; Ono was asked what she would do if her husband were deported. The hearing ended with an adjournment until 1 July, and afterwards Lennon and Ono's fingerprints were taken for their residency applications.

The Deportation Battle

John Lennon's battle with the US immigration authorities had begun in March 1972, when the Nixon administration — alarmed by Lennon's involvement in anti-war activism and his plans to campaign against Nixon's re-election — ordered his deportation on the basis of his 1968 British cannabis conviction. Lennon had pleaded guilty to the charge in order to protect Yoko Ono from deportation at the time, accepting a £150 fine.

Lennon's lawyer, Leon Wildes, mounted a vigorous legal defence, arguing that the deportation order was politically motivated and that Lennon's conviction did not meet the threshold for deportation under US law. Wildes also pursued a parallel strategy of building public and institutional support for Lennon's case.

The 17 May Hearing

The hearing was presided over by Judge Ira Fieldsteel. Lennon's lawyer Leon Wildes submitted written testimonies from New York City mayor John Lindsay and Lord Harlech — David Ormsby-Gore, the former British Ambassador to the United States and a close associate of the Kennedy family — in support of Lennon's application to remain.

Lennon took the stand and was questioned by both Wildes and the US government lawyer Vincent Schiano. At the close of his testimony, Lennon made a direct personal appeal to the court:

"I don't know if there's any mercy to plead for, because we are not in a federal court, but if there is any, I'd like it, please, for both of us and our child."

— John Lennon, immigration hearing, New York City, 17 May 1972

Yoko Ono's Testimony

Yoko Ono then took the stand. Judge Fieldsteel asked her what she would do if her husband were deported. Her reply, delivered in a quiet voice, became one of the most quoted moments of the entire deportation saga:

"You're asking me to choose between my husband and my child. I don't think you can ask any human being to do such a thing."

— Yoko Ono, immigration hearing, New York City, 17 May 1972

The reference to "my child" was to Kyoko Chan Cox — Ono's daughter from her previous marriage to Anthony Cox, who had taken Kyoko and disappeared. Ono had been fighting to regain custody of Kyoko since 1971, and the child's whereabouts were unknown. The question of Kyoko's location was central to Wildes's legal strategy.

The Kyoko Argument and the Adjournment

Wildes requested that the immigration case be terminated, and a decision postponed, until Ono's estranged daughter Kyoko could be located and reunited with her mother. The argument was that deporting Lennon — and potentially Ono — would further damage Ono's ability to find her daughter.

Judge Fieldsteel granted an adjournment until 1 July 1972. After leaving the court, Lennon and Ono's fingerprints were taken for their residency applications — a procedural step that indicated the legal process was continuing rather than concluding.

The Outcome

The deportation battle continued for more than three years. A favourable ruling from the US Court of Appeals in October 1975 — which found that the deportation order had been improperly issued — eventually allowed Lennon to apply for permanent residency. He received his green card on 27 July 1976. He was shot and killed on 8 December 1980.

Key Facts: 17 May 1972

Hearing: Follow-up to 12 May 1972 immigration hearing
Location: Immigration and Naturalization Service, New York City
Judge: Ira Fieldsteel
Lennon's lawyer: Leon Wildes
Government lawyer: Vincent Schiano
Written testimonies submitted: NYC Mayor John Lindsay; Lord Harlech (David Ormsby-Gore, former British Ambassador to the US)
Witnesses: John Lennon and Yoko Ono
Adjournment granted: Until 1 July 1972
After hearing: Fingerprints taken for residency applications
Deportation basis: 1968 British cannabis conviction (£150 fine)
Green card received: 27 July 1976

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was John Lennon facing deportation from the US?

The Nixon administration ordered Lennon's deportation in March 1972, citing his 1968 British cannabis conviction. Lennon's lawyer Leon Wildes argued the order was politically motivated — the Nixon administration was alarmed by Lennon's anti-war activism and his plans to campaign against Nixon's re-election.

What did John Lennon say at the 17 May 1972 hearing?

At the close of his testimony, Lennon made a personal appeal: "I don't know if there's any mercy to plead for, because we are not in a federal court, but if there is any, I'd like it, please, for both of us and our child."

What did Yoko Ono say at the hearing?

When Judge Fieldsteel asked what she would do if her husband were deported, Ono replied: "You're asking me to choose between my husband and my child. I don't think you can ask any human being to do such a thing."

Who was Lord Harlech?

David Ormsby-Gore, 5th Baron Harlech — the former British Ambassador to the United States during the Kennedy administration and a close associate of the Kennedy family. His written testimony was submitted in support of Lennon's application to remain in the US.

When did John Lennon receive his green card?

On 27 July 1976, following a favourable ruling from the US Court of Appeals in October 1975 that found the original deportation order had been improperly issued.