THERESA May has been asked to intervene in the extraordinary case of an American couple who’ve lived in Inverness for years, and face being deported because of a “retrospective” change to immigration laws.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford asked the Prime Minister to meet with him to discuss the case of Russell and Ellen Felber, who have spent more than £400,000 buying and refurbishing a guest house in the Highland capital.

Last week a Court of Session judge ruled the Home Office had acted lawfully in declaring the Felbers had not met the legal requirements to remain in the UK.

The plight of the Felbers, first raised by The National in December last year, has roused the community with thousands of locals, businesses and church groups coming out to publicly support the couple.

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, Blackford said the case was symptomatic of the chaos at the heart of the government's immigration policy.

 “An American couple, the Felbers, moved to Scotland and invested £400,000 to run an award winning guest house in Inverness," he told the Tory leader.

"They contributed to their community and the local economy.

“Yet they will be deported because of a retrospective change by Home Office rules.”

He asked the Prime Minister to meet with him to discuss the case and “the systemic problem with UK migration”.

May replied, insisting there weren’t “systemic problems with UK migration”.

“What is absolutely right is that the Home Office does work to ensure that the immigration rule are properly applied and that action is being taken according to those rules,” she added, telling the MP that Home Secretary Amber Rudd would meet with him.

Speaking after Prime Minister’s Questions, Blackford said: "It is unacceptable that the Felbers, like the Zielsdorff family, who ran the local shop in the tiny village of Laggan before them, are to be ripped from the Highlands. The Tories disgraceful 'one size fits all' policy doesn’t fit Scotland and has no bearing on the realities of everyday life in rural areas."

Drew Hendry, the MP for Inverness, Nairn Badenoch and Strathspey, who has been fighting for the couple to stay, recently wrote to Rudd, detailing the circumstances of the Felber’s difficulties.

In his letter, Hendry said the Felbers’ hard work and family life, had been put in jeopardy.

He wrote: “It is deeply concerning that the current UK visa regime has put this hard work, this family life in Scotland and significant investment in jeopardy. In February 2016, when Mr Felber and his wife applied for indefinite leave to remain, this was refused on a technicality.”

“It is clear to me they have complied with all conditions of their Tier 1 visas and this is demonstrated by the granting of their visa in 2011 and subsequent extension for two years in 2014.

"I was therefore deeply concerned to hear that this compliance was not taken into account in their most recent application ... I believe that, whilst the technicality may have been upheld, both the basis for their refusal of right to remain and the process that they have had to endure have been fundamentally unfair.

“This situation has had a very real impact on my constituents’ well- being. 

"Given the circumstances outlined above, I think it is not unreasonable to demand that you meet with me urgently, that you personally intervene and take all steps necessary to ensure the Felbers can continue to live in Scotland.”