Thread: Obesity Makes Deportation Dangerous

Now this is original. It is in Canada but could happen here.

http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2 ... 6-sun.html

Woman too big to boot
310-pound Swede's condition makes her deportation 'dangerous'

By TOM GODFREY, SUN MEDIA

Last Updated: 10th October 2009, 5:14am

A retired Swedish professor and his wife who suffers from "morbid obesity" have been temporarily allowed to remain in Canada because it will be too expensive and possibly unsafe to deport her.

Martin Gottfrie Beyer, and his wife, Malle, both 79, of St-Urbain-de-Charlevoix, about 100 km northeast of Quebec City, arrived in Canada in 2001 as visitors and failed to have their visas renewed. They were ordered deported and filed an appeal to the Federal Court of Canada.

Beyer, who speaks 10 languages, was an associate professor at New York Medical College, before retiring in 1990 after working for 20 years at the United Nations.

Toronto immigration lawyers say it's the first time they've heard of someone getting to stay in Canada because of obesity.

The 310-pound Malle suffers from "morbid obesity and is in bed all day," the court was told, adding she has been bedridden for six years and doctors visit her at home.

"I look after her needs all the time," Beyer said yesterday. "It is great news that we were given an extension to stay here."

The couple were granted a two-year extension to their visitor's visa on appeal to the court.

"My wife is happy and delighted with the news," he said from Quebec. "It's like a big load has been lifted from our shoulders."

Federal Court Justice Max Teitelbaum said Malle requires constant care and has problems walking.

"The health of the plaintiff remains very limited and even when walking she is at great risk of falling," Teitelbaum said in an Aug. 25 decision. "Travel outside the home is non-existent."

Court was told the couple are "financially independent" and own their own home.

"The applicant has a medical condition making all travel and transportation dangerous," Teitelbaum said. "The Canada-Sweden route could lead to serious complications and risks to the health of the plaintiff."

Immigration officials said the deportation would be "very difficult, expensive" and complicated to organize.

The 15-hour journey from Charlevoix to Sweden would be hard on Malle, court heard.

It "would incur costs of approximately $60,000, given the serious shape of the applicant," Teitelbaum was told. "There is only one air ambulance company that can offer this service in Canada.

"The health condition of the plaintiff has deteriorated," Teitelbaum said. "The facts in this case raise doubts about the fairness of how the applicants were treated."

The couple have also applied for permanent residency, which is being processed.

TOM.GODFREY@SUNMEDIA.CA

Now thats funny. We'll probably have the illegal alien advocates in the US recommending they gain enough weight to be obese, then use this defense not to be deported.

The couple were granted a two-year extension to their visitor's visa on appeal to the court.

"My wife is happy and delighted with the news," he said from Quebec. "It's like a big load has been lifted from our shoulders

I bet!