Sweden's immigration authorities have initiated the deportation of an eight-month-old baby named Emanuel to Iran, even though his parents are legally allowed to reside and work in Sweden. The decision has raised concerns as Emanuel's parents, who arrived from Iran, had gained their work permits through the 'spårbyte' procedure designed to facilitate family reunifications. They believed that their family circumstances would allow them to continue living together in Sweden.

However, this procedure was abolished by the Swedish government in April 2022, shortly before Emanuel was born. As a result, the family members who were part of this 'spårbyte' arrangement no longer qualify for residency permits. The situation was further complicated when the Swedish Migration Agency ruled in January that Emanuel must be deported to his parents' country of origin, leading to a distressing situation for the family as they now face travel to Iran with their son.

A representative from the Migration Agency, Jesper Tengroth, stated that the agency has no alternative but to deny Emanuel a residency permit under the current regulations. This case highlights ongoing tensions around immigration policies in Sweden, particularly concerning children born to immigrant families and the implications of regulatory changes that can dramatically affect family unity and migration status.