Israeli-Thai family beats deportation
Son of Thai woman who married Israeli man gets help from court in battle against Interior Ministry
"I liked her and decided to invite her to come with me to Pattaya Island," he said. Love blossomed, and the two married in Cyprus and brought twins into the world. In the meantime Poran's eldest child joined them from Thailand. This week the court decided that he would be allowed to remain in Israel.
"For us it is acceptable to leave the children with the parents, but I missed them very much," said Poran, recalling her trip with Uri to visit her parents' village, where he declared he planned to marry her.
After their marriage in Cyprus and the birth of the twins seven years ago, Poran received Israeli citizenship. Then, four years ago, her eldest child, Em, came from Thailand and asked for a visa. In 2007, his request was granted.
Uri Ben-Haim with Em and Poran (Photo: Ben Kelmer)
But Uri and Poran's relationship was not going as planned. "That same month we got a divorce," Uri recounts. "Once I came out with it, because I didn't have anything to hide, the Interior Ministry decided to reverse the decision and refuse to give Em a visa.
"This feeling of insecurity coupled with the desire to act according to bureaucratic laws and guidelines is intolerable." Despite the divorce, Poran and Uri remained on good terms, and the latter decided to support Em in his fight for residential status.
"I just want to be close to my mother," says the 20-year old son. "I feel that my family is here, I have brothers here and this is where I want to be."
'I deserve to live here'
The Population Administration's Tel Aviv office rejected Em's appeal, claiming he had never been included in Poran's request for status. It ordered him to leave the country within 30 days.
"We didn't give up," Uri said. "Poran and I are in this together and her son is dear to me. It is his right to be close to his mother. I wrote another letter, a hearing was held, and we discussed his case with a committee that could give him a visa for humanitarian reasons."
But even this was to no avail – the committee rejected his plea and ordered him to leave the country. Uri and Poran decided to appeal to the court system.
Em recalls living in fear during this time. "I wanted to live here, close to my mother, and thought I deserved to do it," he said.
The Tel Aviv District Court came back with good news, and ordered a stay of deportation. Judge Sara Gadot also inveighed against the decision to refuse Em a visa, ordering the Interior Ministry to reconsider in light of the fact that he had previously been awarded one.
Now Uri and Poran must file another request. "This case exemplifies the lack of good faith the Interior Ministry displays in all its dealings with foreigners," explained Yael Katz-Mastebaum, the attorney representing the family.
"The Interior Ministry does not want foreigners here and the clerks do all they can to keep them out, but even they understand that when a man falls in love with a foreign woman and marries her she must be awarded status. On the way, however, they pile up obstacles."
The Population Administration said in response that once a proper request was filed, according to court orders, it will be considered once again.
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