Farhood Masoudi and Sara Ghorbani cuddle with their dog, Teddy, on the couch. Otherwise, stress and worry overshadow their lives right now.
Sara Ghorbani, Farhood Masoudi, and their son Parham have built a life in Norsjö, just outside Skellefteå, with jobs, school, a home, and a network of Swedish friends. Yet, they are threatened with deportation.
The abolition of the "track change" system by parliament means their temporary work permits are no longer valid. The family's plight has sparked desperation and widespread anger among Norsjö residents.
The Swedish parliament recently voted to abolish "track change," a process enabling denied asylum seekers to apply for work permits within Sweden.
This change, effective April 1, is retroactive and lacks transitional provisions. As a result, individuals holding temporary work permits granted via track change will not receive extensions and may be deported unless they qualify for alternative residency.
While they can reapply for work permits, they must leave Sweden first.
Among those whose lives are now upended by this decision are Sara Ghorbani, 45, Farhood Masoudi, 47, and their 13-year-old son, Parham.
The family, who arrived from Iran in 2018, has been settled in Norsjö for several years. Sara works for the cleaning company Wikk, Farhood is employed by the municipality's home care service, Parham attends Norsjö School and plays hockey for Norsjö HC U13, and they have a wide circle of Swedish friends.
Just last November, they moved into their newly purchased house on Nygatan.
The family's fate has sparked both sorrow and anger in Norsjö, especially among Sara's colleagues at the cleaning company Wikk, who are now doing their best to support her.
Yet, they face deportation. Sara and Farhood are bewildered.
– When we were asylum seekers, we couldn't attend SFI, so we learned Swedish at home, Sara explains.
– We've got driver's licences, work, pay taxes, bought a house, and planned for our future. We've done nothing wrong, so why must we leave Sweden?
They emphasise that, materially, they had a comfortable life in Tehran. Farhood worked as an engineer, and Sara studied economics. But life isn't just about material comfort. In Iran, strict Sharia law severely restricts women's rights. Neither Sara nor Farhood wish to return to such a society.
– A home is more than just a roof, Sara says.
– It's about feelings, security, freedom, and the right to choose. Iran is a terrible place; I never want to go back.
The oppression of women in Iran is well known, so returning is not an option for Sara Ghorbani and her family. “I never want to go back,” she says.
At the time, Sweden seemed like a dream — a democratic country where everyone, including women and children, has rights.
The family applied for asylum in Sweden, and during this time, they converted from Islam to Christianity.
However, three asylum applications over three years yielded only rejections.
The turning point came when Sara secured a job at the cleaning company Wikk, prompting her to pursue a work permit through the "track change" system.
Sara Ghorbani gets a hug from Taisiia Mosissa before the work shift. Sara is a well-liked colleague at Wikk, just as Farhood is in home care.
It was granted for two years, with the option to extend for another two and then pursue permanent residency.
Farhood, initially employed at Drömtrappor and later in home care, would have been covered under the same rules as a dependent.
But that was under the previous legislation; now everything has changed.
Uncertainty
Because Sara and Farhood have been following the "change track" debate, they sensed what was coming, so Sara also submitted an application for an extension in November.
But despite the months passing, she still hasn't received a decision, and now the family fears they won’t receive one before the new law takes effect in just over a week.
– I check online every day, says Sara.
Farhood Masoudi and his family are among nearly 5,000 people in Sweden affected by the new law. “Why? We are not criminals,” he says.
Now it feels like everything they have built here is falling apart. And they constantly return to the question, why?
– We are not criminals. We’ve done everything we can to show that we want to stay in Sweden. But Sweden doesn’t want us to stay, says Farhood.
They point out that it’s not just the latest decision that shows this. It’s the same with the salary floor for people from outside the EU, which is currently 28,480 kronor and is soon due to be increased to 35,600 kronor.
– They say that regular jobs aren’t needed. Why? Cleaning and home care are needed too, says Sara.
Busch's promise
When Christian Democrat (KD) leader Ebba Busch visited Lycksele, Sara and Farhood seized the opportunity to discuss their situation.
They were encouraged to attend by local KD chairman Lars-Åke Holmgren, who has been actively involved in their case.
– We met Ebba Busch, Farhood says.
– She assured us that if we've done nothing wrong, we have nothing to worry about and can stay in Sweden.
When Sara received her work permit, Farhood was included as a dependent. He started working at Drömtrappor, but after cutbacks there, he switched to home care.
But that doesn’t appear to be the case. After consulting with a lawyer, Sara and Farhood have little hope of remaining on other grounds. According to the lawyer, children, employment, and home-ownership are insufficient grounds.
Leaving the country and reapplying for a work permit is also not a viable option. How long would the process take, and could any employer hold a position indefinitely?
– I am here now, ready to work and fight for a normal life, says Sara.
How are you feeling today?
– I’m worried; it’s hard to focus on work. I’ve received many hugs from friends and colleagues; this situation is difficult for me. I don’t know what will happen or where I will live.
The family’s situation has deeply upset many in Norsjö. Colleagues, acquaintances, and friends from the Pentecostal church, the gym, and other community connections have all expressed their anger.
Sara Ghorbani cleans at Drömtrappor, where CFO Anna Hjelte has become a close friend. “Inhuman and incomprehensible,” Anna says about the deportation threat.
Marita Laine, unit manager for home care in Norsjö, was horrified upon learning of their situation.
– Farhood is a highly valued employee, a very skilled guy, she says.
Wikk’s CEO, Laila Olofsson, describes the family’s situation as tragic.
– If the worst-case scenario happens, their life’s fate and dreams would be shattered, and we would be left without a fantastic employee, she says.
Sara first received a two-year work permit. She applied for an extension in November but has yet to hear back and fears the new law will take effect before she gets an answer.
As the manager of a company where five out of 26 employees are from other countries, Olofsson is highly critical of the new immigration policy, particularly the salary threshold and the removal of track change.
– The tough line hits our industry especially hard, where a lot of integration happens. Many from other countries get their first job in cleaning, she says.
The same is true in home care.
– People from other countries are needed in healthcare and care across Sweden. Without them, things wouldn’t work, says Laine.
For Sara and Farhood, the support from those around them provides a ray of hope amidst the darkness.
– We’re not alone. And that feels good, says Sara.
The legal change
Migrationsverket anticipates that approximately 4,700 individuals could be affected by the removal of the track change option.
According to the agency, processing times vary by industry. Highly qualified jobs take about a month, while occupations requiring more investigation take longer.
Regarding the possibility of remaining on other grounds, an individual assessment is conducted:
– There is some room in the law to take particularly mitigating circumstances into account in each case, but unfortunately, our ability to consider work and establishment in Sweden is limited when this specific exception in the legislation is removed, says Vera Björk, press spokesperson at Migrationsverket
Norran has also contacted the government offices and migration minister Johan Forssell (M) without success. However, this is what Forssell said when the proposals to abolish track change and impose stricter statute of limitations on deportation decisions were presented in December:
– It’s about fighting the shadow economy and achieving a more effective return process. We believe this will lead to an increased return rate and a reduced number of unfounded asylum applications.