John Lennon was ordered to leave the United States within 60 days on 23 March 1973.
Judge Ira Fieldsteel’s Notice of Decision was sent to Lennon’s lawyer Leon Wildes on this morning. The 47-page document contained Fieldsteel’s decision to deport Lennon, and noted that Yoko Ono, who obtained permanent resident status in 1964, was entitled to remain in the country.
Lennon was ordered to leave voluntarily within 60 days or be deported. Fieldsteel’s verdict was considered final unless an appeal was lodged with the Board of Immigration Appeals by 2 April 1973. This was done on 30 March.
Mr. Lennon requested the privilege of voluntary departure from the U.S. in lieu of deportation in the event that his application was denied. He is statutorily eligible for such relief. He has declined to designate any country to which he would prefer to be sent in the event deportation becomes necessary. His deportation will therefore be directed to England, the country of his citizenship.
Since Lennon and Ono were also attempting to locate Ono’s nine-year-old daughter Kyoko, following another lengthy custody dispute, Yoko was faced with a quandry: either she had to separate from her husband, or give up hope of finding her daughter.
The US District Director Sol Marks announced the decision during a press conference held on this day at the Immigration Building in Manhattan. Also present was Wildes, who told the press that Lennon and Ono were in California. The couple released a statement which read: “Having just celebrated our fourth anniversary, we’re not prepared to sleep in separate beds. Peace and love from John and Yoko.”