The Swedish authorities have stopped the deportation of four-year-old Raif Terzić, a boy with autism and a speech disorder, who was born in Sweden and was threatened with forced transfer to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
On Friday, February 6, the Swedish Migration Board decided that deportation was not appropriate in this case and granted Raif a temporary residence permit for 13 months, with the possibility of extension. The decision was made after an assessment that separating the boy from his parents would have serious negative consequences for his development.
An obstacle to citizenship
Raif was born in 2021 in Malmö, at a time when his parents Haris and Nicole did not have Swedish citizenship, which is why he could not automatically acquire it either. His older brother Amar, who is two years older, received Swedish citizenship at birth, while Raif remained stateless.
The parents subsequently requested a Bosnian passport for Raif, based on his father’s citizenship, so that the boy could stay in Sweden and continue his life with his family.
The migration administration stated in the explanation of the decision that there is a strong emotional and life connection between Raif and his parents, and that his health condition and special needs require constant care and support. Swedish doctors and therapists warned that separation from his parents would have seriously harmful consequences for his development, which is why deportation was assessed as a disproportionate measure.
Earlier, the Swedish authorities considered that “there are no obstacles for the family to leave the country while waiting for a decision on a residence permit for Raif.” However, after a new review of the case, as well as increased pressure from the public and the media, a different decision was made.
What does the Swedish law say?
The spokesperson of the Migration Board Jesper Tengrot explained that, according to Swedish laws, a child born in Sweden does not automatically acquire citizenship if the parents are not citizens of that country.
He added that in such cases, parents must first secure a second citizenship for the child, after which they can apply for a Swedish residence permit.
Mother: We can finally breathe a sigh of relief
Raif’s mother, Nicole, said that the Migration Board’s decision brought immense relief to the entire family, noting that the process had been long and extremely stressful.
“It feels great. I cried when they called us from the administration. We can finally breathe a sigh of relief,” she said.
She added that Raif was unaware of everything the family had been through during the years of bureaucratic struggle.
The decision by the Swedish authorities means that Raif and his family can stay together in Sweden, and that the boy will continue to live in an environment that provides him with the stability, security and continuity necessary for his development.
