Yesterday, the Riksdag was to debate the government's bill on stricter rules for keeping foreigners under surveillance or in detention during the migration process.
However, prior to the decision, the Center Party (C) and the Green Party (MP) had submitted a request to suspend the part of the bill that concerns children in detention for one year.
Joint committee
Now, after a brief meeting, the Committee on the Constitution (KU) has concluded that the rules regarding a stay of proceedings can be applied to the bill.
"It is a unanimous committee. There is a clear template to follow when examining these paragraphs," says Jennie Nilsson (S), chair of the committee.
Malin Björk (C), a KU member, is happy about the news.
"We don't want to put children in detention like that. That's not the Center Party's policy."
This means that the Riksdag can decide on a one-year suspension as early as tomorrow. All that is required is for one-sixth of members to vote yes.
Longer time in detention
The idea behind the government's bill is that foreign nationals with deportation orders can be detained or placed under surveillance in more cases than today and held in detention for longer periods if there is a risk that they will go underground.
For children who have applied for asylum, the proposed general rule is a maximum detention period of six days, with the possibility of an extension of another six days if there are exceptional reasons. Currently, the period is three days, with the possibility of an additional three days.
C and MP are critical of doubling the maximum time and of allowing children in certain cases to be separated from their guardian by placing the child or their guardian in custody.
