Swedish Parliament Passes Controversial Immigration Law: Residence Permits to Be Revoked for 'Misconduct'

(Patria) - The Swedish Parliament has adopted a law that allows authorities to revoke migrants' residence permits for so-called misconduct, including unpaid debts, undeclared work, or ties to extremist organisations.

The law applies to pending residence permit applications, as well as retroactively to already approved permits.

The government, which won the 2022 elections on promises to reduce immigration and take a tougher stance on crime, argues that individuals who do not behave according to the rules or commit criminal offences should not be allowed to remain in the country, Reuters reports.

The law does not fully specify which types of behaviour are considered unacceptable, but the government has previously cited unpaid debts, tax evasion, criminal activity, and ties to extremist organisations.

The Swedish Migration Agency will be responsible for reviewing residence permits, and decisions can be appealed before the Migration Court.

Migration Minister Johan Forssell earlier stated when presenting the law that those who do not make an effort to behave properly cannot expect to stay in Sweden.

The opposition and human rights organisations have criticised the law as arbitrary, warning that decisions can be based on behaviour that is not a criminal offence.

The Stockholm-based organisation Civil Rights Defenders assessed that the law leaves people uncertain about which actions or expressions could be used against them, and that it undermines the rule of law and the principle of equality before the law.

This law requires many public sector employees to report any person they believe lacks documentation. Critics of the new law have long warned that it will negatively affect the physical and mental health of migrants and significantly increase the risk of racial profiling.

"This is a cruel and ineffective policy that opens a Pandora's box of snitching, which is a hallmark of authoritarian states," said Jacob Lind, a postdoctoral researcher in international migration at Malmö University, in a statement.

"Today's vote will have devastating consequences for undocumented migrants, who will be pushed further to the margins of society as their access to rights is restricted."

Following widespread criticism, teachers, doctors, and social workers have been exempted from the reporting obligation. However, employees of tax authorities, employment agencies, and social insurance agencies are among those who will have to notify the police if they suspect they have been in contact with individuals without residence documents.