I know for a fact that when you apply for legal residence, you must have a sponsor, who is a resident, who promises to assume all financial responsibility for you until you become a citizen. As a sponsor,you sign a legal agreement with the US government that you will be responsible, and prove that you have enough income to do so.
She must have had someone do this ( I wonder who?) to even apply for legal residence. She apparently did not receive it, hence the deportation order.
Bottom line:He knew.