directorate of immigration
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Immigration Raises Support Requirement, Foreign Students Possibly At Risk
The Directorate of Immigration (UTL) has announced that they are raising the minimum income requirement for residence permits in Iceland, and this has many foreign university students in a panic, Grapevine has learned. The announcement posted on UTL’s website states that, as…
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Immigration Directorate Ignored Warnings About Asylum Seeker
The Directorate of Immigration (UTL) reportedly ignored repeated warnings that an asylum seeker under their auspices was depressed and desperate about his situation, culminating in him setting himself on fire last Wednesday. Sources close to Kvennablaðið report that UTL had been notified…
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Asylum Seeker Sets Self On Fire At Shelter
Yet another asylum seeker has poured petrol over themselves and ignited it. Vísir reports this happened at the asylum seeker shelter at Víðines this afternoon. The man was taken to hospital, and is reportedly badly burned. This is actually the second time…
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Afghan Family Who Fled Taliban To Be Deported
A family of seven, who fled persecution from the Taliban for a better life in Iceland, will be deported to Germany any day now, where there is a strong likelihood that they will be deported back to Afghanistan. A petition is now…
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Refugees & Asylum Seekers To March On Parliament Tomorrow
Refugees and asylum seekers alike will converge on Parliament tomorrow afternoon to convey three demands: the right to work, the right to have their cases examined, and the closing of the Directorate of Immigration (UTL). No Borders in Iceland announced the event…
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Petition To Save Asylum Seeker Family Handed Over To Interior Ministry
A petition calling for a family to be granted asylum was handed over to Ministry of the Interior officials today. The family’s deportation was postponed by Child Protective Services, and both the legal status of the children and existing legislation could help…
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Immigration Directorate Adopts Stricter Policy For Asylum Seekers
The Directorate of Immigration (UTL) has adopted a new restriction for asylum seekers, which they contend is a response to the growing numbers of asylum applications. Vísir reports that, according to the new policy, a person who has been denied asylum will…
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Child Ombudsman “Alarmed” By Deportation Attempt
Iceland’s Ombudsman for Children expressed sadness at the sight of an attempted deportation of an asylum seeker family, and the legal status of the children in involved – both of whom were born in Iceland – was a matter of special attention.…
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Deportation Of Family Postponed – VIDEO
A child welfare official ultimately prevented the deportation of an asylum seeker family, including two young children, in the early hours of this morning. Their ultimate fate remains uncertain, but supporters and the press where at the family’s home when police arrived,…
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Children Born In Iceland May Be Illegally Deported Tomorrow
Two young children, both born in Iceland, are set to be deported as early as tomorrow, despite Icelandic law specifically prohibiting the deportation of children born and registered in Iceland. A protest is to be held at the home of the family,…
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Afghan Mother & Daughter Get Second Chance For Asylum
The Immigration Appeals Board has ordered the Directorate of Immigration (UTL) to review the case of Torpikey Farrash and Maryam Raísi, a mother and daughter who fled persecution in Afghanistan some four years ago, and were originally denied asylum in Iceland on…
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Afghan Couple Fighting Deportation To Germany
Germany is part of a European agreement to deport Afghan asylum seekers back to Afghanistan, and one Afghan couple in Iceland are currently fighting against being deported to Germany. The Grapevine has received word that Ali Bahram and Mahdya Ismail, a young…
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Asylum Seeker Would Take “Anywhere In West Africa” Over Norway, Fears For Life
An asylum seeker from Ghana is fearful of being deported to Norway, as he believes Norwegian authorities will deport him to his home country, where he faces certain persecution and possibly death. Benjamin Akosa was in his second year of university in…
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Whole Family Now Facing Imminent Deportation
Regina Osarumaese and her two children, one of whom was born in Iceland, were informed just moments ago that their appeal to the Immigration Appeals Board to have asylum in Iceland was rejected. Regina is pregnant with a third child and will…
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No Borders Plea To Stop Deportation Of Family – VIDEO
A family who could be deported in the next few days are the subject of the following video, released by No Borders Iceland, which appeals directly to Minister of the Interior Ólöf Nordal to let them stay in Iceland. The video is…
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Why Does This Keep Happening? A Closer Look At The Directorate Of Immigration
The Grapevine has reported on many asylum seeker deportation stories over the years. We’ve reported on how their treatment at the hands of the Directorate of Immigration (UTL) has often been in violation of international and domestic law, and how the Directorate…
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Petition Underway To Save Afghan Family From Deportation
An Afghan mother and daughter who have been on the run for 15 years have been denied asylum in Iceland. They face deportation, but a petition is underway demanding the Directorate of Immigration (UTL) grant them asylum. Fréttatíminn reports that Maryam Raísi…
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Asylum Seeker Takes Her Case Directly To Parliament
A Nigerian asylum seeker, who is 18 weeks pregnant and has two small boys, is still facing deportation. Today, she went to parliament, where she intends to speak with Icelandic legislators to bring attention to her case. Regina Osarumaese, a Nigerian woman…
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Immigration Will Examine Iraqi Asylum Seeker’s Case
An Iraqi asylum seeker who has previously gone on hunger strike to protest deportations received some promising news over the weekend: the Directorate of Immigration has agreed to examine his case. The Grapevine received word from Raisan Al-Shihmani that the Directorate of…
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Asylum Seekers Subjected To Possibly Illegal Restriction Of Movement
Asylum seekers at the Arnarholt shelter have their movements restricted in a manner that might violate Icelandic law. It has also come to light that the original intent of the shelter – which included Icelandic language classes and other activities for asylum…
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A Visit To Grensásvegur
The Grapevine paid a visit to one of Reykjavík’s shelters for asylum seekers yesterday, speaking with some of the residents there about their daily lives. Last week, Iraqi asylum seeker Raisan Al-shihmani was moved into one of Reykjavík’s shelters for asylum seekers,…
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The Dega Family Is Back In Iceland
The Albanian family that were deported last spring are finally back in Iceland, and ready to pick up where they left off. Vísir reports that the family have newly returned, and want nothing more than to continue to live the life they…
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Iraqi Asylum Seeker Refusing To Return To Shelter
Likening the facility to a “prison”, Raisan tells The Grapevine he will sit in front of parliament until he is physically moved. Raisan, now on the 11th day of his hunger strike, is currently sitting in front of parliament, where he intends…