Leon Wildes, Lawyer Who Defended John Lennon in Landmark Deportation Case, Dies at 90

Wildes' successful defense of Lennon against politically motivated deportation attempts by the Nixon administration marked a significant moment in immigration law.

Leon Wildes, the lawyer who successfully defended John Lennon against deportation from the US in the 1970s, has died at the age of 90.
Wildes represented Lennon during a four-year legal battle against the Nixon administration, which sought to deport the former Beatle due to his high-profile protests against the Vietnam War.
Wildes' strategy involved proving that Lennon was being unfairly targeted for political reasons, a claim that was eventually upheld by a Court of Appeals judge in 1975.
Wildes' work on the Lennon case became a landmark in immigration law, and he continued to be involved in immigration issues throughout his career.
Wildes is survived by his third wife Alice and by two sons from his first marriage.