When the family came to Sweden, according to them because of threats and persecution in their home country Serbia, the four children in the family were relatively small. Within a few months, their father died of cancer and their mother was mentally ill and was hospitalized for just over a year.
During that time, the children were placed in foster homes in Grästorp. It was then that the family received their first deportation decision. But because the children were without both their parents, the deportation decision was never enforced then, according to the Migration Agency.
"Who would have taken responsibility for returning to Serbia? We were four underage children without our parents. Our mother has also felt mentally ill for many years, says Arnela Kalac.
Graves no grounds for asylum
According to the Swedish Migration Agency, the reason why it has taken as long as ten years in this case is partly because the family appealed two deportation decisions, in 2014 and 2018.
"There are individuals who choose not to follow the Migration Agency's decision and remain in Sweden. After four years, the case becomes statute-barred and then you apply for a residence permit again, and then the process takes significantly longer, says Jesper Tengroth, press officer at the Migration Agency.
According to him, an asylum review process takes only a couple of months if those who receive a deportation decision do not appeal to the Migration Court.
"This family does not meet the asylum requirements and has received two deportation decisions. We must be able to expect people to return to their home country then, says Jesper Tengroth, press officer at the Swedish Migration Agency.
Just over a year ago, the eldest sister died, so now the family has two graves here in Sweden. Do they not have the right to be able to visit them?
"It is of course very tragic that they have lost family members, but that is no reason why you should get a residence permit in Sweden.
Hear in the clip why the Migration Agency cannot make any exceptions