The Directorate of Immigration has concluded that Mark Cumara, a 23-year-old resident of Thorlákshöfn, southwest Iceland, is residing illegally in Iceland and must leave the country by September 16. Cumara has lived in Iceland for five years.
Cumara’s mother and foster-father are both Icelandic citizens who have resided in Iceland for the past decade. His sister, grandmother and grandfather are also Icelandic citizens and Cumara has lived with his family in Thorlákshöfn for five years, 24 Stundir reports.
Cumara and his family all work at the fish processing company Frostfiskur. “He is an efficient, hard worker, always arrives on time and pays his taxes and his debts. Now he’s just being deported,” said Cumara’s foster-father Alexander Aksel Andrésson.
“We don’t know the rules and no one warned us that he would all of a sudden become illegal in his own home,” Andrésson said, adding that he does not understand why the family is not given some time to sort out the required residence permits.
“We would like some time and assistance to make Mark a legal resident because he is no less Icelandic than we are,” Andrésson said.
The Directorate of Immigration said parents are responsible for acquiring residence permits for their children until they become legal adults at 18, after which time they are responsible themselves. The directorate cannot intercede.
Cumara asked for more time but his request was denied because he has to apply for such extensions in writing and provide good reason.
According to law, illegal immigrants must leave the country. Cumara has been asked to leave, but his case has not yet gone through a process of deportation.
