Immigration Act, Ude | Takako Ellefsen (83) is thrown out of Norway: – Obviously unreasonable

At the weekend, VG wrote about 83-year-old Takako Ellefsen, who has been told by the Norwegian Immigration Service (UNE) to leave Norway by 28 December.

Among other things, UNE justifies the dispatch by saying that Ellefsen does not have a particular connection to Norway which would mean that she would be granted a residence permit in accordance with the Immigration Act. Her children, who are now adults, do not live in Norway either.

On Monday, Ellefsen’s daughter Klara says that the family has received many statements of support in the last 24 hours.

– Among other things, we have received statements of support from old colleagues at Det norske Veritas. They have always experienced Takako Ellefsen as part of the Norwegian environment abroad, she tells Nettavisen.

– Weakness in the regulations

Mayor candidate in Stavanger, Sissel K. Hegdal (H) has also become involved.

– Like many others, I feel that the regulations here take too little account of the specific situation and give little opportunity to exercise the discretion that is so important that the administration has with it in the meeting with the individual, she says to Nettavisen.

– However, I have understood that the decision is final and cannot be appealed. I think it is very important to get involved when there are issues that are perceived as obviously unreasonable for our residents. As a mayoral candidate for Stavanger Conservative Party, I am also in a position to tackle regulations that have weaknesses and that should be improved, through dialogue and input to our representatives in Parliament. As an elected representative, I am also an ombudsman and want to be accessible to the citizens of Stavanger, says Hegdal.

Married to Norway in 1964

– Mother has been part of Norwegian society since 1964. She receives a pension from Norway and has paid taxes to Norway during the years she has lived here. I never thought that Norway would say no to her, says daughter Karen.

Takako Ellefsen is a Japanese citizen. In 1964, she married the Norwegian Karsten Johan Ellefsen. He was a sailor and worked on Norwegian ships sailing in East Asia. They had four children, all of whom have Norwegian citizenship.

After the children were born, Ellefsen got a job at Det norske Veritas, so he could be on land and more with his family. The company took advantage of Ellefsen’s connection to East Asia and stationed him in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore, but the family always had a strong connection to Norway and the Stavanger area.

Got family reunification in Schengen

In 2009, Karsten Johan Ellefsen became ill with cancer and the couple moved home to Norway, together with their daughter Klara. Karsten Johan died in 2009, and Takako and her daughter Klara remained in Norway in the years that followed.

– After a few years, the job took me back to Japan, and my mother moved with me, says Klara.

Later they moved to Spain together, because of Klara’s job.

In connection with the settlement in Spain, Klara applied for family reunification with her mother. The Spanish authorities accepted it. Klara therefore believed that her mother’s stay within the EEA/Schengen was secured. The surprise was therefore great when the Norwegian authorities now decided to refuse Ellefsen residence.

– I am a Norwegian citizen, and my mother also has a large extended family here in Norway. I really didn’t think this would be the result. Mum wants to live her last years in what she feels is her homeland, and when that time comes, she wants to be buried with her husband, says Klara.

Her father, and Takako’s husband, are buried at Revheim church in Hafrsfjord.

Will change the decision

Takako Ellefsen’s lawyer, Maren Skåden, reacts to the fact that UNE does not grant the 83-year-old residence in the country she perceives as her homeland, and where her husband is buried. They will now try to get the decision changed.

Previous debate: The Immigration Board picks at the regulations and deports Norwegians

– In this case, there is talk of Takako Ellefsen having lived for five years in the EU country of Spain and being allowed to be there by the Spanish authorities. When she then came to Norway, there should basically be equal treatment of EU/EEA citizens here, says Skåden to VG.