A 74-year-old British lady with extreme Alzheimer’s has been threatened with deportation from Sweden over Brexit paperwork she was unable to finish due to her incapacitation.
Kathleen Poole lies bedridden in a dementia care residence with no prospect of shifting. Her household have advised the Guardian that she is going through compelled elimination to the UK as a result of she has not obtained an up-to-date passport and monetary statements required beneath the brand new post-Brexit guidelines making use of to British folks within the EU.
The police have already been to her care residence to undergo her wardrobe and query nurses about her private belongings in what campaigners say is without doubt one of the “most egregious” instances of susceptible residents being trampled on by Brexit.
“I’m devastated and indignant. That is inhumane to maneuver an individual who has Alzheimer’s and is simply too sick to even take care of themselves. It’s a shame that it’s even a topic and that it’s gone so far as deportation. No phrases might even describe this and tearing our household aside is horrendous,” mentioned her son, Wayne.
A former chambermaid from Macclesfield, Kathleen moved to Sweden along with her late husband to be near Wayne, his Swedish daughter-in-law, Angelica, and 4 grandchildren.
However she developed Alzheimer’s on the age of 63 and has been in a care residence for the previous 10 years. The illness developed, leaving her unable to feed herself, bathtub herself or communicate.
Care workers have to make use of a hoist to carry her from her mattress to a wheelchair and use continence pads.
Kathleen had everlasting residence and a “private quantity” evidencing her proper to be in Sweden however when Brexit got here into drive she wanted to reapply for a brand new immigration standing often known as residence standing.
Her household made an utility earlier than the deadline in 2021 however it was rejected due to the shortage of a passport.
“She can’t depart her mattress, so she by no means had the necessity to get a brand new passport and we defined that,” mentioned her daughter-in-law Angelica who anticipated compassion when she advised this to the migration authorities in two appeals.
Then in September, the household obtained a letter ordering her to depart the nation.
Police confirmed up on the residence in January when her household, who do not need energy of legal professional, have been, once more, unable to offer the paperwork wanted.
“They have been going by means of her wardrobe to see what garments she had and asking the nurses what furnishings belonged to her. The nurse mentioned she didn’t know as she had solely been there for a yr.
“I’m so indignant. It’s disgraceful and ridiculous that after 18 years within the nation that is taking place all due to Brexit,” mentioned Angelica, who additionally loved pre-Brexit freedom of motion and lived in Macclesfield for years earlier than returning to Sweden along with her husband.
She mentioned certainly one of her younger youngsters is having points in class and has nightmares that the “police are going to come back and [are] taking his granny away” up to now week.
“It’s not truthful. They’re affecting Swedish youngsters too. Why can’t they simply depart any individual the place they’re, which is near their household?” she requested.
The Labour MP Hilary Benn, the previous chair of the Home of Commons Brexit choose committee, referred to as on the UK and EU to intervene urgently.
“That is stunning and I can’t perceive why the Swedish authorities are threatening to take away Mrs Poole.
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“The EU Fee, which is answerable for overseeing the residency rights of British residents within the 27 member states, ought to intervene instantly – as ought to the British authorities – to place a cease to the deportation of a susceptible British citizen.”
Her case highlights the chance Brexit created for susceptible folks throughout the EU and within the UK however campaigners say it additionally underlines the inadequate curiosity within the difficulty at UK and EU stage.
“It is a woman who can’t even feed herself. The police are simply doing a box-ticking train on what she will be able to take along with her however no one is standing up and saying ‘that is preposterous, this shouldn’t be taking place’,” mentioned David Milstead, a British professor of physics in Sweden who’s a part of the British in Sweden group.
“For all of the grand phrases of the UK and the EU, this can be a stunning and egregious case of the misapplication of the withdrawal settlement,” he added.
The EU went to nice lengths to make sure ensures for all residents affected by means of no fault of their very own by the referendum end result, with Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier declaring that “Brexit mustn’t alter the character of individuals’s every day lives” in a state of the union deal with in 2017.
A spokesperson for the Swedish migration minister, Maria Malmer Stenergard, mentioned that, by legislation, they weren’t allowed to touch upon particular person instances. The migration company didn’t reply to a request for remark.
The International, Commonwealth and Improvement workplace mentioned it was in contact with the Poole household and was persevering with to assist them.
“We’re supporting a British lady and her household in Sweden,” it mentioned.
However Angelica mentioned the embassy in Stockholm had written to her on 9 February advising them to get authorized recommendation and to cooperate with the police.
“It is necessary that you simply absolutely perceive that the police can go forward with the deportation, even with out your consent,” a consular official advised her in a letter seen by the Guardian.
Milstead mentioned there was no organisation on the European Fee stage or in Sweden mirroring that of the Impartial Monitoring Authority within the UK which is a statutory physique arrange after Brexit to guard the rights of EU residents.
“It’s all a bit like, this may be traced again to the unique sin of Brexit and nothing might be completed about it,” he mentioned.
