The Swedish government has presented new proposals aimed at increasing the return of people without legal right to stay in the country. According to Migration Minister Johan Forssell, the government has decided on a legislative referral with suggestions to enhance return rates, including expanded powers for the Swedish Police Authority.
Forssell stated that previous governments had not prioritized this issue, and the current administration is now seeing the consequences. The government estimates that over 100,000 people are living in what it calls a 'shadow society' without proper documentation or legal status.
The government has decided on a legislative referral with suggestions to enhance return rates, including expanded powers for the Swedish Police Authority.
The proposals include new rules for internal immigration controls that would give police broader authority to conduct checks when there is reason to believe someone lacks legal right to be in Sweden. This represents a wider scope than current requirements. The police would also gain access to new tools including expanded possibilities for house searches, body searches, and authority to seize and examine mobile phones suspected of containing identity information.
Additionally, several government agencies including the Employment Service, Social Insurance Agency, and Tax Agency would have a new duty to proactively report information about foreigners to the police when there is reason to believe they lack legal right to stay. According to the government, returns have increased by over 60 percent since it took office.
Previous governments had not prioritized this issue, and the current administration is now seeing the consequences.
The proposals are being advanced by both the government and the Sweden Democrats party, with reducing the shadow society being described as a key priority during the current mandate period.