Despite the law being tightened as recently as 2022, the number of deportation sentences for crimes has not increased. Now the government and the SD are proposing further tightening of the law.
Sweden has historically handled foreign criminals with kid gloves. Now we are picking them off, says SD's migration policy spokesperson Ludvig Aspling.
Migration Minister Johan Forssell (M) also notes that it is "finally finished".
We will have the toughest regulations in the Nordic region when it comes to criminal deportations, he says.
Today, a foreign criminal can only be sentenced to deportation if the prison sentence is at least six months or if there is a risk of recidivism. According to Forssell, only 6.3 percent of all sentences more severe than a fine against foreigners have also included deportation.
“Is it reasonable?”
The government is now proposing that the main rule should be that all punishments more severe than fines should be combined with deportation.
TT: Is it reasonable to be deported if you are sentenced to one month in prison for theft or drug offenses?
It is reasonable for victims of crime to receive redress, says Forssell.
And it is reasonable to point out that if you come to Sweden to commit a crime, you are choosing not to be part of our country.
The courts should also no longer be allowed to refrain from ordering deportation simply because there is little prospect of enforcing the deportation at that time. The assessment of whether there are obstacles to enforcement should only be made after the sentence has been served.
However, even after the tightening of the law, the courts will still have to take into account the defendant's connection to Sweden. But the requirements for the connection to be considered to outweigh the grounds for deportation will be increased.
Sixfold?
The investigation that forms the basis for the stricter laws has assessed that the effects will be that the number of people sentenced to deportation due to crimes will increase from the current approximately 500 each year to 3,000.
"It will have major consequences. Many in this group are very criminally active and will no longer be able to commit crimes in Sweden," says Forssell.
But even if the number of foreign criminals sentenced to deportation becomes significantly higher than today, there may still be obstacles to carrying out the deportations.
This could, for example, be a case of countries where the lives of those being deported would be in danger. It could also be a case of the receiving countries not accepting them, if the deportation is taking place against the person's will.
The legislative amendments are proposed to enter into force on September 1, 2026.
Peter Wallberg/TT
Niklas Svahn/TT
Facts: The bill on criminal deportations
TT
Punishments more severe than a fine should, as a general rule, lead to expulsion.
Prosecutors should be obliged to request deportation in such cases.
The courts should not refrain from ordering deportation because there are obstacles to enforcement at that time.
Connections to Sweden can still be grounds for deportation, but the requirements for this are being raised.
Today's higher requirements for deporting those who came to Sweden before the age of 15 will be removed.
The re-entry bans for criminally deported persons will be longer.
The penalty for violating the return ban is being tightened.
Murder, manslaughter, rape, aggravated assault and aggravated weapons offences should lead to deportation even for people with refugee status, who according to international conventions have higher protection against deportation than others.
Source: Government
Today, a minimum of six months in prison is required to be sentenced to deportation. Now the government wants all punishments more severe than a fine to also entail deportation orders for foreign citizens.
For example, this could apply to any of the following crimes: drunk driving, minor assault, minor drug offenses, unlawful threats, and trespassing.
All are crimes with fines or shorter prison sentences on the penalty scale.
Imprisonment is also included in the penalty scale for, for example, petty theft (shoplifting), vandalism and illegal driving, although imprisonment is unusual for these types of crimes.
Source: Police, Parliament, Swedish Prosecution Authority.
