Illegal Immigrant from Eritrea Wins Swedish Lottery Jackpot
Tesfaldet Tesloy - Lottery Winner
An Eritrean national, 28-year-old Tesfaldet Tesloy who has been living in Sweden as an illegal immigrant has scored a big win with a lottery scratch card and appeared on television on Saturday to collect his winnings even though authorities have been trying to deport him. The Eritrean who has lived in the immigrant-friendly Nordic country for six years, won a tax-free prize of 1.2 million Swedish crown which is about the equivalent of $160,000.
Attempts to deport the man have failed due to his country’s refusal to take him back, a common problem for immigration officials. Tesloy is one of hundreds of people living illegally in Sweden who cannot be sent home because their home countries refuse to have them back unless they agree to being deported. Iran, Cuba and the east African nation of Eritrea all ignore or refuse to cooperate with the deportation orders, leaving the immigrants stuck in a legal no-man’s land.
Immigration official described the deportation process as “difficult,” since few immigrants who come to Sweden seeking political refuge can be convinced to leave voluntarily. “They are not allowed to be here and we are unable to deport them, and they won’t leave voluntarily,” Swedish authorities at the Stockholm County Border Police said. Tesloy’s lucky lottery break was deemed entirely legal by the Swedish National Lottery. Although he is not allowed to work in Sweden he now has plans to become a licensed physical therapist.
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