George Mason, a 74-year-old man who has lived in Sweden for more than 20 years and receives round-the-clock care, has been given days to leave the country or face deportation, his family said.

Mason, who was born in Hinckley in Leicestershire, has vascular dementia and vascular parkinsonism and lives in a specialist care facility. His daughter, Michelle Torossian, said the British Embassy told the family on 7 August that Swedish authorities had set a deadline of Thursday for him to leave Sweden, or be deported.

The Migration Court of Appeal rejected the family’s appeal, according to court documents, after considering the state’s interest in regulated immigration alongside Mason’s private life. The court found that expulsion was “proportionate”.

Days to Depart

Torossian said the decision has left the family in distress. She said she was concerned about the impact on Mason if police were sent to take him from the care setting.

“We just want him to have some dignity,” Torossian said. She also described the situation as “awful” and “traumatic” for the family, adding that she believed Mason was being treated “ruthlessly and harshly” given his vulnerability.

Residency Applications Rejected

The case follows a withdrawal from the UK’s previous EU status. When the UK left the European Union on 31 January 2020, British citizens no longer held EU citizen rights, which removed their right to remain in Sweden under residence rules.

During the transitional period, British citizens could apply for residence status under a UK-EU withdrawal agreement. That process ended on 31 December 2021. Torossian said that because of Mason’s health conditions, a “god man” had been given legal authority to manage his affairs.

Swedish Migration Agency documents seen by the BBC state that Mason applied for permanent residency on 21 December 2021. The application was refused because the agency said supporting documents showing that he met the grounds for residency had not been submitted.

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A further application was made in February 2024, citing Mason’s connection to his son, Carl Mason, who has Swedish residency. That application was rejected in November 2025, with the agency concluding there was no “special relationship of dependence” between them.

Torossian said another appeal was lodged after the agency’s latest decision. The Migration Court of Appeal rejected an appeal in June 2026, before a further legal challenge was filed with “extensive medical evidence”.

Medical Risks Cited

The latest appeal argued that Mason was not capable of international travel. It also said moving him from his current care environment would likely lead to a significant deterioration in his physical and mental health.

The court documents reported that medical assessments described the move as “not medically justifiable” and said it would pose “significant risks”.

However, the court rejected the appeal in July, finding Mason’s medical condition was not “life-threatening”. The documents also stated that he would be able to access care in the UK.

Torossian said doctors had advised the Swedish authorities that moving Mason to the UK would pose a “danger to his life”. She said the family’s concern was the journey itself, describing it as potentially harmful.

The family has launched a fundraiser to help pay for a legal challenge and said its initial aim is to halt proceedings.

UK Government Support

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “We are supporting Mr Mason and his family and are in contact with the Swedish authorities about his case.”

Join the discussion?

17 August 2026

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13 hours ago, webfact said:

Torossian said doctors had advised the Swedish authorities that moving Mason to the UK would pose a “danger to his life”.

In what specific way?

13 hours ago, webfact said:

Mason’s medical condition was not “life-threatening”. The documents also stated that he would be able to access care in the UK.

It appears that Mason's family in UK really rather he stay in Sweden, otherwise might be somewhat a personal burden to the family to return to UK irrespective of any UK government health assistance.

if they did so, I bet his family are now sorry they voted for Brexit.

If no legal right to live in a foreign country, no reason for that community to wear massive healthcare costs.

Edited 12 hours ago12 hr by Old Croc

Does anyone online know how the Thai govt would deal with this? (Asking for a friend:)

Sweden has no problem keeping the illegal rapists and murderers in the country.

This is what happens when the RULE of law governs, rather than the spirit of flexibility in compassion. This is the second instance we've heard from Sweden. Perhaps the bureaucrats were born from an egg so have no compassion for parents.

Do I need to mention this is exactly what's happening in the US on a much grander scale?

6 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

This is what happens when the RULE of law governs, rather than the spirit of flexibility in compassion. This is the second instance we've heard from Sweden. Perhaps the bureaucrats were born from an egg so have no compassion for parents.

Do I need to mention this is exactly what's happening in the US on a much grander scale?

I am 100% for the rule of law.

Not the “spirit of flexibility,” not selective compassion, not “but this time it’s different.”

Rule of law means the same rules apply to everyone, including the people we feel sorry for.

That is the only thing that stops society from turning into a popularity contest or a permanent exception factory.

I live in a host country and I follow its laws and rules exactly as written. I expect everyone else to do the same.

If the law produces a harsh outcome in an individual case, the correct response is to change the law through the proper process and not to demand that officials ignore it because someone thinks the outcome lacks compassion!

Sweden (and the US) are not suffering from too much rule of law. They’re suffering from years of selective enforcement and political pressure to treat the law as optional when it becomes inconvenient.

That is how you destroy both fairness and compassion in the long run. Change the law if you don’t like it and don’t demand that officials ignore it.

Or you do this in Thailand that you demand they should change the immigration law??? Good luck with that.

Is Britain deporting EU nationals who have become ill and are using the NHS, or are in care homes?

No? Thought not.

11 hours ago, Old Croc said:

if they did so, I bet his family are now sorry they voted for Brexit.

If no legal right to live in a foreign country, no reason for that community to wear massive healthcare costs.

He has lived there for over 20 years! His family live in Sweden!

He has Alzheimer’s ! Doctors have warned it would be dangerous to move him!

If he was there illegally I’m sure he’d have been asked to leave many years ago.

I have elderly friends who live in France , they have never been kicked out because they are ill. You do have a residents card when living in a country. Everywhere.