The increase in the repatriation grant from SEK 10,000 to SEK 350,000 per adult has stronger support among those with a foreign background who live in vulnerable areas than among people living in the rest of Sweden, according to the Indikator opinion survey.
We think that's really interesting, we didn't expect that, says Ahmed Abdirahman, CEO of the Järvaveckan foundation, which commissioned the survey.
Most positive group
Among people with a foreign background living in vulnerable areas, 39 percent responded that they view an increased repatriation grant positively, while 30 percent view it negatively. The corresponding figure for the rest of the country, which includes both people with a foreign and Swedish background, is 27 percent who are positive and 38 percent who are negative.
The strongest support is found among people in vulnerable areas who have been in Sweden for less than five years, where 46 percent responded that they are positive about the proposal.
“A great uncertainty”
You can try to speculate on what it is due to. Are you born abroad and have come to Sweden from a country outside Europe, in this social climate where migration policy has been completely overhauled, where the rules change almost daily. It is a great uncertainty that you live in, says Abdirahman.
The survey also shows that support for the increased return grant is greatest among Christian Democrats and Sweden Democrats voters, where 45 and 47 percent respectively are positive, and lowest among Left Party and Green Party voters, where 52 and 60 percent respectively are negative.
Indikator Opinion has interviewed 4,900 people, of which 2,718 people live in what the Police Authority defines as a vulnerable area, risk area or particularly vulnerable area.
The survey was conducted from 19 September to 26 October, using a random sample. The question asked was: "What do you think about the following policy proposal: Significantly increase the return allowance (financial allowance for people with a residence permit who want to leave Sweden and settle in their home country or in another country)?"
Foreign background is defined as either born abroad or born in Sweden but with two parents who were born abroad.
Source: Indicator Opinion
The government has decided that the repatriation grant will be increased from SEK 10,000 per adult and SEK 5,000 per child, to SEK 350,000 per adult and SEK 25,000 per child.
The increase, which will be implemented at the turn of the year, means that those who have been granted a residence permit for protection reasons will receive financial assistance to move back to their home country or to a country where the person has the right to live.
Two adults who are married or cohabiting can receive a maximum of SEK 500,000 in total, and a household with adults and children can receive a maximum of SEK 600,000 in total.
Source: Swedish Migration Board
