SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

Proposal: Deportees to be held in custody longer

More asylum seekers who have been rejected should be able to be detained and stay there longer, up to one and a half years, proposes the government's investigator. More people should also be able to be monitored with electronic ankle tags and not be allowed to leave their municipality.

» Published: February 17 2025

Proposal: Deportees to be held in custody longer
Photo: Lars Schröder/TT

In Sweden's six detention centers, foreigners are sitting who have been ordered to leave the country – but who do not do so voluntarily, and where there is a risk that they will evade.

Today, a person can be detained for a maximum of 12 months – but that limit should be extended to 18 months, according to the government's investigator Johan Lundmark. This is the longest time allowed under EU law.

This is exactly in line with what we have asked for, says Migration Minister Johan Forssell (M).

What could motivate longer detention times is if, for example, it takes time to obtain a passport or for the receiving country to accept the person. However, according to the investigator, it will likely involve only a few cases.

Monitored with an ankle tag

The investigator also proposes expanded opportunities to detain a foreigner, and the assessment is that more will be detained with the new rules.

Overall, detention decisions are expected to increase by ten percent, says Lundmark.

This corresponds to approximately 600 detention decisions per year, but multiple decisions can apply to the same person.

The investigator also proposes stricter rules for supervision for those who are not detained. The person to be deported will be required to reside within a designated area, such as a county or municipality, and this can be monitored with an electronic ankle tag.

Even children can be monitored with an ankle tag, but the investigator expects it to involve older children between 15 and 17 years old who are to be deported due to crime or because they pose a security threat.

Today, supervision is used very limitedly, according to the investigation, with barely 350 decisions per year.

Difficult to deport

Whether the proposals will also lead to more people being deported is unclear. To detain someone, a reasonable prospect of deportation is required – and at the same time, the border police have pointed out significant difficulties in deporting to countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia when the person themselves refuses.

According to the Migration Minister, the big problem is that far too few who are denied asylum return voluntarily. It is perceived that there are no consequences if one does not go home.

He therefore believes that the investigator's proposals, in combination with other regulatory changes that are underway, will have an effect.

Now we're saying that there will be a much clearer consequence, says Forssell.

The legislative changes are proposed to come into force on July 1, 2026.

The investigation's key points:

a new time limit for detention of adults, 18 months instead of 12

for children, the time limit is extended from three days to six days

two new alternatives to detention: a requirement to reside at a designated location, and a requirement to stay within a designated area, which can be combined with monitoring using an electronic ankle tag

special security units will be established at the detention centers

Around 3,500 people are detained each year, and around 6,000 detention decisions are made. A person can thus be subject to multiple decisions.

Those who have been sentenced to deportation for crime or who pose a security threat can be detained longer than the specified time limits.

Currently, there are 567 detention places in Sweden. The government wants to increase this to 1,000 by 2029 at the latest.

Source: SOU 2025:16, Migration Agency

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Spring warmth for the weekend – is it here to stay?

Spring warmth for the weekend – is it here to stay?

Fast pace in this year's lynx hunt

Fast pace in this year's lynx hunt

The Swedish Association of Health Professionals Slams Higher Patient Fee: "Devastating"

The Swedish Association of Health Professionals Slams Higher Patient Fee: "Devastating"

Burnout syndrome to be removed: "I think it will get better"

Burnout syndrome to be removed: "I think it will get better"

Doctor Charged with Causing Patient's Death

Doctor Charged with Causing Patient's Death

Crime victims to receive damages more easily

Crime victims to receive damages more easily

Furious over more expensive medicines

Furious over more expensive medicines

Researchers: "Stop the digital national tests"

Researchers: "Stop the digital national tests"

Charged with assaults on girls via Snapchat

Charged with assaults on girls via Snapchat

Trump mocks the US weather authority - "will cost lives"

Trump mocks the US weather authority - "will cost lives"

Foot-and-Mouth Disease in the EU: "A Wake-Up Call"

Foot-and-Mouth Disease in the EU: "A Wake-Up Call"

Environmental Inspector: 90 Mummified Pigs Must Be Removed

Environmental Inspector: 90 Mummified Pigs Must Be Removed

Stolen boat engines on their way back from abroad

Stolen boat engines on their way back from abroad

Mother alerted about 14-year-old being murdered

Mother alerted about 14-year-old being murdered

Planted stolen corals: "Impressive"

Planted stolen corals: "Impressive"

Court of Appeal Upholds Verdict Against Police Officer

Court of Appeal Upholds Verdict Against Police Officer

Animals Put Down Incorrectly - Prosecution

Animals Put Down Incorrectly - Prosecution

Launching new youth job initiative in disadvantaged areas

Launching new youth job initiative in disadvantaged areas

The Social Insurance Agency demands over 800,000 kronor from a woman

The Social Insurance Agency demands over 800,000 kronor from a woman

Multiple vehicles involved in accident on E4 – very slippery road

Multiple vehicles involved in accident on E4 – very slippery road

Multiple vehicles involved in accident on E4 – very slippery road

Multiple vehicles involved in accident on E4 – very slippery road

Dangerous Avalanche Situation in Several Mountain Areas

Dangerous Avalanche Situation in Several Mountain Areas

Raid on Wrong Person – Police Officer Risks Warning

Raid on Wrong Person – Police Officer Risks Warning

Woman in her 90s hit by car

Woman in her 90s hit by car

Truth and Falsehood About Popular Sleep Tips

Truth and Falsehood About Popular Sleep Tips

The Easter Train Journey That Becomes Twice as Long

The Easter Train Journey That Becomes Twice as Long

Explosion at villa in Tyresö – one arrested

Explosion at villa in Tyresö – one arrested

Most common mistakes during pollen season

Most common mistakes during pollen season

Missing Woman Found Dead - One Arrested for Murder

Missing Woman Found Dead - One Arrested for Murder

The Russian military threat to Sweden may increase

The Russian military threat to Sweden may increase

The Snow Came Late – A Record Number of Reindeer Calves Have Died

The Snow Came Late – A Record Number of Reindeer Calves Have Died

The Prison and Probation Service Requests New Billions to Expand

The Prison and Probation Service Requests New Billions to Expand

Big Fight in Halmstad – Baseball Bat and Hammer

Big Fight in Halmstad – Baseball Bat and Hammer

Neglected 60 Cows – Sentenced to Prison

Neglected 60 Cows – Sentenced to Prison

Discovery around Saturn: "Goldmine" of new moons

Discovery around Saturn: "Goldmine" of new moons

The Golden Eagle Spreads: "Incredibly Fun"

The Golden Eagle Spreads: "Incredibly Fun"

The Defence Confirms: Invited to Ukraine Meeting

The Defence Confirms: Invited to Ukraine Meeting

New discovery rewrites human evolution

New discovery rewrites human evolution

Emelie Nyman becomes new chairperson

Emelie Nyman becomes new chairperson

The School Authority: Too Many Students Want to Become Salespeople

The School Authority: Too Many Students Want to Become Salespeople