Moderate Party Proposes Changes to Deportation Laws for Young Immigrants in Sweden
Moderate Party leaders propose legislative changes to protect young immigrants from deportation in Sweden.
Key Points
- • Young immigrants can be deported upon turning 18, while their families may remain.
- • Moderate Party calls for law changes to ease residency applications for those under 25.
- • Increase in deportations linked to changes in residency permit policies.
- • Current laws are seen as punishing contributing members of society.
In Sweden, there is an ongoing debate sparked by leaders of the Moderate Party regarding the deportation of young immigrants who came to the country as children. Currently, these young individuals face the risk of deportation once they turn 18 years old, while their parents and younger siblings may continue to live in Sweden. This situation has raised significant concerns about the fairness and implications of existing immigration laws.
Helena Nanne, a member of the Moderates' party board and opposition councilor in Malmö, emphasized the need for legislative reform, stating, "Moderate ideology does not rest on punishing people who work hard and contribute." Her sentiment reflects a broader call among her colleagues for a change in how the law addresses the residency status of young immigrants.
The proposed legislation aims to allow individuals under the age of 25 to apply for residency on humanitarian grounds, making the process less restrictive than the current requirements imposed on adults. Douglas Thor, the chairman of the Moderate Youth League (MUF), has vocalized similar concerns, noting that while there is a necessity to control immigration and ensure that deportations for criminal offenses are enforced, the deportation of law-abiding young individuals who arrived in Sweden as minors is unjust.
Thor highlighted that young immigrants, particularly those studying or working, should not face such severe consequences merely due to their age and legal status at the time of turning 18. This proposed legislative change would ease their path to securing residency while they complete their education and seek employment.
The issue of increased deportations can be attributed to recent policy shifts that removed the automatic granting of permanent residency upon the first application, replacing it with temporary permits that require regular renewal. This has left many young immigrants who turn 18 without a personal basis for remaining in the country, precipitating their deportation despite their integration into society.
As the debate unfolds, the Moderate Party's proposal signals a significant pivot in approaching immigration law and could alter the futures of many young individuals seeking to find their place in Swedish society. Discussions around this legislative change are expected to develop as the government considers the implications of deportation and integration policies.