Swedish Center Party Proposes Compassionate Migration Policy Amid Rising Debate on Teen Deportations

Centerpartiet, under the leadership of Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist, has introduced a proposal aimed at crafting a more "reasonable" migration policy in Sweden to address the contentious issue of deporting teenagers who have grown up in the country. Central to their proposal is the reinstatement of the possibility for individuals to remain in Sweden on compassionate grounds, a move specifically designed to prevent the deportation of children who have matured in Sweden with parents holding residence permits when they reach the age of 18. Additionally, Centerpartiet suggests that children born in Sweden to parents with residence permits should be entitled to apply for their own residency status. They also advocate for a transitional rule permitting individuals whose asylum applications were denied but subsequently obtained work permits to renew their permits without leaving Sweden.

This latest political move comes amid significant public opposition to teenage deportations. A survey by GP/Novus highlighted that 76% of Swedes are against the deportation of youths raised in Sweden. However, the issue remains highly complex within governmental circles.

Migration Minister Johan Forssell (M) has firmly opposed Socialdemokraterna's calls to freeze deportations of these teenagers. Forssell underscored that instructing the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) to halt deportations would amount to ministerial governance, which the government must avoid. He criticized S-leader Magdalena Andersson’s suggestions as either politically motivated or stemming from a misunderstanding of how government operates. Nonetheless, Forssell acknowledged that many young individuals facing deportation have lived in Sweden for several years but failed to qualify for residency, often due to their parents’ earlier deportation orders.

The government has been exploring solutions since receiving a report on the issue before Christmas and seeks a fair and legally sound resolution without repeating problematic past policies, such as the gymnasielagen introduced by the previous S/MP government. Forssell emphasized the importance of handling the matter carefully, considering the complexity involved.

Thus, while Centerpartiet advocates immediate legislative changes to prevent teenage deportations, the government remains cautious, balancing legal constraints and political pressures as public debate intensifies around this sensitive migration issue.