Swedish authorities order deportation of British widow after 21 years

Joyce Thomas, a 78-year-old British widow and retired nurse, is fighting deportation from Sweden after living in the country for 21 years. Swedish authorities rejected her post-Brexit application to stay, citing that it was submitted too late and failed to demonstrate "reasonable grounds" for the delay. A subsequent application under national immigration laws was also denied.

Thomas, who resides in Hammarö near her son, grandchildren, and her late husband's grave, is currently taking her case to a higher court with the assistance of pro bono lawyers. Her situation is cited by campaigners and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) as part of a broader trend, with approximately 2,500 British citizens ordered to leave Sweden following Brexit due to what critics describe as a hardline approach by Swedish authorities.