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Sweden Orders 78-Year-Old British Widow Joyce Thomas Deported

8/19/2026

29 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Sweden ordered 78-year-old British widow Joyce Thomas to leave within four weeks in November.
MP Häkan Svenneling (Värmland) wrote to minister Johan Forssell demanding an end to deportations.
UK Foreign Office says Sweden has issued 2,500 deportation orders since 2021, a 27.5 % refusal rate.
European Commission told The Local on 19 August 2026 it sees the Withdrawal Agreement correctly applied.

History

Historical Context

In 2015 Sweden received a record 162,877 asylum applications, prompting a reform of its asylum system and temporary border checks. The surge led to a rise in deportations, with about 2,500 removals reported in 2024, including 78-year-old Joyce Thomas, prompting MP Häkan Svenneling to press Minister Johan Forssell to halt expulsions.

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Story summary

Sweden ordered 78-year-old British widow Joyce Thomas to leave within four weeks in November.
MP Häkan Svenneling (Värmland) wrote to minister Johan Forssell demanding an end to deportations.
UK Foreign Office says Sweden has issued 2,500 deportation orders since 2021, a 27.5 % refusal rate.
European Commission told The Local on 19 August 2026 it sees the Withdrawal Agreement correctly applied.

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