Sweden Approves New Laws to Tighten Immigration Rules

Sweden’s parliament has approved a new law that could allow migrants to lose residence permits and be expelled for what officials describe as “bad conduct.” The measure applies both to future arrivals and people already living in Sweden, but it does not spell out exactly what behavior will count. The government has previously cited unpaid taxes, unpaid debts, links to extremist groups and criminal offenses as possible examples.

Responsibility for reviewing residence permits will fall to the Swedish Migration Agency. Immigration Minister Johan Forssell defended the proposal earlier this year, saying, “Whoever does not make an effort to act the right way should not assume they can stay here.”

At the same time, lawmakers passed another immigration-related bill, nicknamed the “snitch law,” by a narrow margin. It will require many public-sector employees to report anyone they believe is in Sweden without legal status. After public criticism, teachers, doctors and social workers were exempted from the reporting duty.

The two laws are part of a broader tightening of Sweden’s immigration policy by the right-wing government ahead of parliamentary elections due in September. The measures have drawn strong criticism from opposition politicians and human rights groups, who say the criteria are arbitrary and unfair.