Family in Haugerud faces separation due to mother’s deportation from Norway

A family of four in Haugerud, Norway, is facing a heart-wrenching separation due to the mother’s lack of identity documents. The mother was deported from Norway in 2013 after an age test indicated she was older than she claimed, and she had stayed illegally in the country. Authorities believe she needs to provide more proof of her identity, despite presenting a genuine Ethiopian passport.

Currently in Ethiopia, the mother is struggling to obtain the necessary documents that confirm her date of birth, complicating her efforts to reunite with her children. It has been over two years since her three children have seen her, causing emotional distress, especially for her five-year-old son, who frequently cries for her.

The father, Selomon Weldu, has had to reduce his work hours at a special needs school to care for their children while they receive support from Norway’s social services. He is concerned about the economic strain this situation places on the family, given the added costs of a recent court ruling that requires them to pay 200,000 Norwegian kroner in legal fees after the state appealed their case.

The family initially won their case in a lower court, but the ruling was overturned by an appellate court, which sided with the foreign authorities, asserting that the mother did not provide adequate evidence of her identity.

As they await a decision from the Supreme Court on their appeal, the family is hoping for a resolution that will allow them to reunite soon. They maintain contact through WhatsApp, and the children are eager for their mother to be present when the five-year-old starts school in just under two weeks.