Jerusalem Court Temporarily Blocks Deportation of Telma Kasao to Keep Family Together

The Jerusalem Appeals Court issued a temporary injunction preventing the deportation of Telma Kasao, a mother of an Israeli citizen daughter and partner of an Israeli man. This ruling came after a report by N12 revealed that the Population and Immigration Authority had decided to deport her, threatening to separate her from her family. Kasao will now be allowed to remain in Israel alongside her partner Eyal Lev and their children while the legal battle over her residency status continues.

The Population and Immigration Authority's initial decision was based on Kasao's failure to divorce her previous husband, whom she married nearly 30 years ago, despite tests confirming the exclusivity of her relationship with Lev. The authority had repeatedly requested that Kasao end her prior marriage to regularize her status but ultimately rejected her request to extend her stay, ordering her to leave the country.

Roni Elian, head of the Visas and Status Department at the Population Authority, wrote to Kasao's lawyers emphasizing that the right to family life for an Israeli citizen is relative and not absolute. Kasao's 16-year-old daughter, Adi Lev, expressed her distress to N12, saying she could not understand how her own country could decide that her mother must leave. Adi pleaded for the decision-makers to consider the impact on her and her family, stating she only wants her mother to stay with her.

The Population and Immigration Authority has been ordered to respond to the appeal, and Kasao's legal team from the Warsaw & Yitzan law firm will continue to fight for her right to live in Israel with her family.