Obama's aunt blames system for allowing her defy deportation

58-year-old Zeituni Onyango was granted asylum by a US immigration judge in May this year. Onyango, the half sister of Obama's father, had twice been rejected for asylum when she was exposed for living in a Boston housing project during the 2008 presidential campaign, 'The Boston Globe' reported.

She argued she should not be blamed for reaping the benefits of public housing. "I didn't take advantage of the system. The system took advantage of me," Onyango was quoted as telling the 'WBZ-TV' on Monday.

She said she had been living in a homeless shelter for two years before she was assigned to public housing. "I don't mind. You can take that house. I can be on the streets with the homeless people. I didn't ask for it. They gave it to me. Ask your system. I didn't create it or vote for it. Go ask your system," Onyango said.

Onyango, who reportedly first came to the US in 2000 with the intention of returning to Kenya, said she fell ill and could not afford the trip home. She suffers from autoimmune disorder Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Her first request for asylum was denied in 2004. In May, she was granted asylum by Judge Leonard I. Shapiro, who said the publicity surrounding her case raised the possibility she would be persecuted if she was forced to return to Kenya.