John Lennon and Yoko Ono attended an immigration hearing in New York City on 17 May 1972.
This was a follow-up to the 12 May hearing, during which Lennon had testified. On this occasion Lennon and Ono were the only witnesses called.
Lennon’s lawyer Leon Wildes provided written testimonies from NYC mayor John Lindsay and Lord Harlech, the former British ambassador to the US.
Lennon took to the stand, and was questioned by Wildes and the US government lawyer Vincent Schiano. Lennon also made a final plea 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.”
Ono then took to the stand, and was asked by Judge Ira Fieldsteel what she would do if her husband was deported. In a quiet voice she 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.”
Wildes then requested that the case be terminated, and a decision postponed until Ono’s estranged eight-year-old daughter Kyoko could be located and reunited with her mother. An adjournment was granted until 1 July, and after leaving the court Lennon and Ono’s fingerprints were taken for their residency applications.