John Lennon vs. the U.S.A.

Starred review from September 1, 2016

In 1972, UK-born John Lennon was engaged in a significant legal battle. Despite being in the United States legally, he was threatened with deportation. Richard Nixon, concerned that the newly franchised youth vote (the 26th Amendment had just been passed) could derail his reelection chances, wanted to silence Lennon's influence over it. The easiest way to accomplish that goal was to send the singer back to England: the Nixon administration instructed the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to begin proceedings against him. Lennon retained Wildes, the author of this work and a tenacious and highly skilled immigration lawyer. For roughly five years, Wildes, founder and senior partner of Wildes & Weinberg, fought the INS to allow Lennon to remain in the States with his family. This book is Wildes's record of how they reshaped immigration law. Using the Freedom of Information Act, he discovered that the INS classified certain cases as nonpriority, enabling some unqualified immigrants to remain in the country. What he learned about prosecutorial discretion and deferred action from these cases has assisted immigrants ever since. VERDICT Accessible and compelling, this superb account is highly recommended for all those interested in law, politics, and the dangers of the abuse of power.--Penelope J.M. Klein, Fayetteville, NY

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