Eight-Month-Old Baby Faces Deportation to Iran Despite Parents’ Work Permits
Stockholm, Sweden – An eight-month-old baby, Emanuel, is slated for deportation to Iran, even as his parents have been granted work permits to remain in Sweden. The case has sparked outrage and prompted questions about Sweden’s evolving immigration policies, particularly regarding family reunification.
Emanuel’s mother, Masoumeh Ghorbani, works as a nurse at Karolinska University Hospital and initially came to Sweden on a student visa. The family later applied for asylum but was denied. Subsequently, Ghorbani secured a work permit, but changes to the law in April 2023 now prevent her from sponsoring her son’s residency. According to Expressen, the family believed having a family would ensure they could remain together.
“We thought that because we have a family, we must live together,” Ghorbani told Swedish public radio, Ekot. “It’s very worrying.”
Swedish Migration Agency spokesperson Jesper Tengroth explained that because the legal basis for Ghorbani’s work permit no longer exists, the agency cannot grant Emanuel residency through family ties. “We cannot grant a residence permit on the basis of connection to the mother, as she has a residence permit on a ground that no longer exists,” Tengroth stated, as reported by Aftonbladet.
The Migration Agency also determined that Emanuel’s age and complete dependence on his mother do not constitute “particularly compelling circumstances” sufficient to override the regulations. This decision highlights the strict interpretation of immigration laws even in cases involving young children.
The family has appealed the deportation order to the Migration Court. If the deportation stands, both parents are expected to accompany Emanuel to Iran, as their permits are work-based, not based on protection grounds, according to Sveriges Radio.
Currently, all deportations to Iran are paused due to the security situation in the country. However, the case has drawn criticism from political figures. Ebba Busch, leader of the Christian Democrats, called the decision “unreasonable” on Instagram, stating that she would “follow it closely.”
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson declined to comment on the specific case but noted that the government is reviewing the rules surrounding family immigration, according to SVT Nyheter.
The Migration Agency acknowledged that it had previously warned of potential issues arising from the new immigration laws and the lack of transitional rules. “We warned about this,” Tengroth said.
