Final answer:
John Lennon was almost deported due to his anti-war activism and the threat it posed to the Nixon administration. Eventually, he was allowed to stay in the U.S., symbolizing a victory for freedom of expression during a time of social change.
Step-by-step explanation:
John Lennon was almost deported from the United States during his post-Beatle days due to his vocal opposition to the Vietnam War and his association with anti-war movements. The Nixon administration saw Lennon's influence and activism as a threat, especially in the context of the upcoming 1972 presidential election.
Although not as severe as the situation faced by African American actor Paul Robeson, who had his passport revoked, or a freshman student expelled and arrested for being in a gay bar, Lennon's political activism made him a target. The U.S. government attempted to deport Lennon by initiating deportation proceedings based on a previous drug conviction in the UK.
The efforts to deport John Lennon were eventually unsuccessful, and he was granted permission to remain in the US. His case became symbolic of the broader struggle for freedom of speech and political expression during a period of intense social and political upheaval.