Susanna with 18

I love you more than anything, but I am very very tired ... I have no more desires or joy in my life, I have these feelings and thoughts for a very long time. When I was 8 years old I had this frustration and sadness for the first time, since then it was never good again. I have tried for a very long time to move on and be honestly happy without always having to pretend or be high, but I just can't do that anymore. I am broken, like a machine which rarely works ... I would like to sleep forever [...]. Nothing special happened that I do this today, I already wanted to steal your medications on the weekend and swallow everything, but I didn't want you to find me like this, I thought about it for a long time, but all I can think about when I get up in the morning is dying. All day long until I come home in the evening and go to bed. I cry a lot and often, but I don't show it to anyone, only lately because I reached my limit and couldn't hold it anymore. You are not to blame for anything! You did everything you could. I love you to Pluto and back.
SMS from Sasanna to her mother

Susanna was threatened with deportation. She doesn't know what to do anymore. She finally wants an answer to the question that has been bothering her for years: "Why don't I have the same rights as everyone else?" Susanna was born in Switzerland, went to school here, never spoke any language other than Swiss German. Nevertheless, she was considered a provisionally admitted person since birth.

Five days before her 16th birthday, her psychiatrist writes a letter to the Thurgau Migration Office. Susanna had massive fears for the future, which were mainly related to her residence status. "From a specialist's point of view, we recommend a definitive residence permit for Susanna in order to give her the opportunity to stabilize herself psychologically and to be able to master the task of 'living' well." The migration office rejects the application. It was probably the tenth negative decision, says Susanna. Each year with the same reason. Since she is a minor, her application is linked to that of her mother. Because of social welfare debts and minor offenses, her mother does not meet the requirements for a regular residence permit. The appeals of the lawyers do not change anything.

Lawyer Marc Spescha has been following the authorities' practice for 30 years. He says: "According to current law, Susanna should have been granted a residence permit long ago, at the latest when she was twelve years old." She meets the requirements for a case of hardship and should have been granted a B permit, regardless of any misconduct on the part of her mother. Without homeland

Without homeland

With the F permit, everything is too complicated. In the summer of 2019, when Susanna is now 17, she finally finds a job as a trainee in a hairdressing salon in Wil - for 50 francs a month. A year later, she starts her three-year apprenticeship there. On her ID card, under "Remark", it says: "Stay for training with internship, limited to one year." The migration office draws her attention to the fact that "the requirements for continued residence in Switzerland must be fully met by the time she completes her apprenticeship at the latest.

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