Judge: Review immigrant's residency application

BRETT BARROUQUERE

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (AP) — A federal judge in Kentucky is compelling immigration officials to make a decision about an application for permanent residency brought by an Iranian immigrant who distributed leaflets for a violent organization in his home country 30 years ago.

U.S. District Judge Joseph Hood in Lexington ruled Thursday that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and it's immigration arm "unreasonably delayed" an application brought by Mehrdad Hosseini for 12 years. Immigration officials now have two months to make a decision on his application.

Hosseini sued the federal government in an attempt to force a decision on his application, which would allow him to legally stay in the United States with his wife and children. Immigration officials granted Hosseini asylum on Feb. 5, 2000.