WELL-wishers have flooded an American couple with congratulations after they won their appeal against the Home Office’s bid to deport them from their Highland home.
Russell and Ellen Felber came to the UK from New York in 2011 and invested their life savings turning a run-down hostel in Inverness into an award-winning bed and breakfast.
Days before Christmas 2016, in a letter delivered along with festive cards, they were told they had 30 days to leave.
Their lengthy appeal process – which impacted Ellen’s health – came to an end at an appeal tribunal in Glasgow when Russell Felber and Mark Strange, the Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness, who had spoken for them, were told the case would go no further.
Felber told The National: “I’m still waiting for it to sink in. The decision came in the courtroom, which we were told was unusual in itself.
“We’re just looking to get back into a routine, get our lives back and get Ellen well again. Thank goodness we didn’t have to go through two or three weeks of agony waiting for the decision.
“We’re now looking at getting back to a normal life.”
Strange told The National he was delighted with the ruling: “I was with Russell at the hearing when the judge said ‘this goes no further’ and granted them leave to remain.
“So I felt relief and joy for Russell and Ellen, but the whole process has taken a tortuously long time to be resolved.”
Damir Duheric, their lawyer, said: “This was one of the rare cases I really wanted to end this way because it was so unfair and unjust.
“Normally the judge will say they’re going to think about it and read all the papers and let you know in writing. But the judge said he was more than happy to allow the appeal.”
Drew Hendry, the couple’s MP, raised their case in Parliament, wrote letters and met with two different ministers, but all attempts to get the Home Office to admit they had erred were ignored.
Hendry, the MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey said: “They have been put through utter hell by the Home Office and this judgement by the courts is a vindication of everything we have said all along – they did nothing to deserve this treatment.
“Russel and Ellen followed the Home Office rules, they did what they were supposed to... yet they have had to spend the last few years of their lives fighting to stay here, costing time and money they will never get back.
“No others should have to go through what they have endured. This Tory Government’s hostile environment immigration policy needs to end, and powers over immigration passed to the Scottish Parliament to allow us to create an immigration system that works for Scotland and treats people fairly.”
Family friend, Ted Venn, also criticised the time the case had taken.
“I am appalled by the length of time it has taken to reach a final decision, as well as the dreadful impact on Russell and Ellen’s health that the Home Office’s action has caused.” he said.
And Gregg Brain, who is no stranger to high-profile immigration cases, added: “I hope the Felbers will be able to heal from this ordeal.”
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