The government announced a pause on teenage deportations, defined as deportations of individuals who arrived as children and face deportation upon turning 18. Officials confirmed the Migration Agency paused teenage deportations on March 6 after the Tidö parties agreed to review legislation. The government is working on a new legislative proposal regarding teenage deportations, which will involve clarifying a legal 'safety valve' in family migration rules to consider dependency between teenagers and adult family members.
Officials stated no new deportation decisions for young people up to 21 years old will be made pending new legislation. The Migration Agency's pause on ongoing cases does not cover cases that have already gained legal force, meaning young people who have already received a final deportation decision must still leave the country. After the government's announcement, the Migration Agency has stopped teenage deportations up to age 21, creating confusion about whether the pause applies broadly to all young people up to 21 or only to new cases.
We have agreed on a reform of family immigration that will give those who have come to Sweden, learned Swedish, studied or worked, and done the right thing a better chance of creating a future for themselves in Sweden.
The pause is based on a political agreement designed to push the Migration Agency to delay decisions until new legislation is in place. The Migration Board has announced a pause in current cases because legislative changes are moving in a favorable direction, indicating uncertainty about whether the pause is a formal agency decision or a political expectation. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated that the government has agreed on a reform of family immigration that will give those who have come to Sweden, learned Swedish, studied or worked, and done the right thing a better chance of creating a future for themselves in Sweden.
Despite the pause, specific cases of young people facing deportation continue. Nardine Raed Awad, a 21-year-old, must leave Sweden on Thursday due to a deportation order to Egypt. Zaina Kawasmi, 23 years old, is affected by teenage deportations and received a deportation notice after living in Sweden for 14 years. Najib and Aliya, twins, are to be deported to Somalia, a country they haven't been to since age 12 and don't speak fluently; according to Aftonbladet, Najib described feeling calm when hearing Ulf Kristersson say that young people who work, study, and do right will get to stay in Sweden.
In that case, cases with final judgments may make a new application, and the court may decide on them again.
Additional individual cases highlight the human impact of teenage deportations. Diya, 21, from Örebro, is to be deported to Iraq; according to Aftonbladet, Diya described having dreams of studying law in Sweden. Kani, 19, is to be deported to Iraq. Ayla Rostami, 21, from Märsta, has a deportation order despite her family being allowed to stay; according to Dagens Nyheter, Ayla Rostami described worrying the pause may not apply to her as she turns 22 in summer.
More deportation cases involve young individuals across Sweden. Mate, 17, is to be deported to Georgia, a country he has never been to. Elena and Dmitriy were taken into custody by police in a dawn raid to deport them to Uzbekistan; according to Dagens Nyheter, Fredrik Burvall described the raid as a 'dawn raid' and Elena was in shock. Nadia Veselova, 21, received a deportation order to Belarus.
What I can say as Prime Minister, with one hundred percent certainty, is that this will be the subject of a new negotiation before a decision is made.
Wafiq Faruq Choudhury, 20, is to be deported to Bangladesh despite the pause on teenage deportations, illustrating the limitations of the policy change. This case underscores that the pause does not cover those with existing deportation orders that have gained legal force, affecting the immediate fate of individuals like Nardine Raed Awad and others with final orders.
Statistical context reveals the scale of the issue, with at least 92 young people receiving decisions classifiable as 'teenage deportations' last year, according to multiple reports. This number highlights the urgency of legislative changes and the potential impact on numerous families and communities across Sweden.
It is free to submit a new application, but the young person must first leave the country within the given time to avoid a travel ban.
The government announced other migration policy changes, including adjustments to permanent residence permits, work permits, and salary requirements for certain professions. These broader reforms aim to address various aspects of Sweden's migration system, though the focus remains on teenage deportations as a particularly contentious issue.
The Tidö parties reversed their stance on teenage deportations, leading some affected individuals to believe they could stay. This political shift has created expectations among young people facing deportation, though legal constraints limit immediate relief for many.
I felt calm when hearing Ulf Kristersson say that young people who work, study, and do right will get to stay in Sweden.
Legal and administrative constraints complicate overturning final decisions. Jesper Tengroth, press chief at the Migration Agency, stated the Migration Agency cannot overturn decisions that are already finalized and no longer theirs. Children who become adults and had temporary residence permits can no longer claim family ties as a reason to stay, according to officials. The Migration Agency considers individuals over 18 as adults who can manage on their own, a stance that underpins the current deportation policy.
The issue has triggered criticism from opposition parties, civil society, and parts of the business community, according to research. The business community argued that the rules risked making Sweden less attractive for highly skilled workers and could split families, reflecting broader economic and social concerns.
I had dreams of studying law in Sweden.
The Tidö parties also agree to appoint an internal investigation that will urgently look into the issue of revoking already granted permanent residence permits, according to research. This move indicates further potential changes to migration policies beyond teenage deportations.
Key unknowns remain regarding implementation and scope of changes. It is unclear how many young people with final deportation orders are currently affected by the pause, and whether they will be allowed to stay or required to leave. The specific legislative changes to address teenage deportations have not been detailed, nor has a timeline for their implementation been confirmed.
I worry the pause may not apply to me as I turn 22 in summer.
Remaining uncertainties include the exact criteria for the 'dependency relationship' that will be considered in the new family migration rules. How the Migration Agency will handle cases of individuals who have already been deported under the previous policy is also unknown. Internal disagreements within the coalition regarding the timing and implementation of changes to teenage deportations may need resolution, as hinted by political statements.
Implications for already-deported individuals and coalition dynamics are still unfolding. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson noted that in that case, cases with final judgments may make a new application, and the court may decide on them again. However, he added that it is free to submit a new application, but the young person must first leave the country within the given time to avoid a travel ban. SD leader Jimmie Åkesson called for an immediate stop to teenage deportations until a new law is introduced, while KD leader Ebba Busch acknowledged that they have slightly different opinions on that issue and agree that they need to get further answers. Kristersson emphasized that what he can say as Prime Minister, with one hundred percent certainty, is that this will be the subject of a new negotiation before a decision is made.
The raid was a 'dawn raid' and Elena was in shock.