What are teenage expulsions?
Several cases have been highlighted by the media where young people who, when they turn 18, are told that they will be deported from Sweden, even though their families are allowed to stay. They speak Swedish, have in many cases attended high school here, and may have found a job.
According to the Swedish Migration Board, this primarily concerns young people who came to Sweden in their late teens, and therefore did not have time to obtain a permanent residence permit before their 18th birthday.
Why are they being expelled?
The rules have been tightened. In 2016, temporary residence permits were introduced as the main rule. This means that immigrants can only apply for a permanent residence permit after at least three years. If the young person has turned 18 by then, they are no longer seen as part of their family and must have their own reasons for staying.
Previously, young adults could also be allowed to stay due to "particularly painful circumstances", for example that they had been educated here, knew the language and had grown up here. That possibility was removed in 2023 by the Tidö government together with S.
How many are affected?
There is no estimate of how many cases there are. The Swedish Migration Board believes that it is not possible to narrow down the group with the statistical means available today.
Why is this getting so much attention now?
Although it has been over two years since the last change in the law, it is only now that the issue has become a burning concern. It is difficult to say why, but several individual cases have been highlighted and aroused strong emotions.
What do the parties want?
MP and V have submitted a proposal to the Riksdag to stop the expulsions, which C also supports. Among other things, they want "particularly painful circumstances" to be reintroduced.
S has not supported this initiative but recently demanded that the government immediately stop the expulsions of teenagers until there is a valve in the system.
However, this was rejected by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M), who has referred to an investigation that addresses the issue of a valve.
L wants to urgently introduce a valve, and SD is also open to changing the regulations in some way, although not with a valve.
KD has not yet taken a position.
What kind of "valve" is that?
According to the government's investigators, those who have reached the age of 18 may still be able to obtain an extended residence permit if they live at home and are considered dependent on their parents (for example, due to studies). The proposal is considered to give this group slightly better conditions for continuing to stay in certain cases.
The government has not given any information about when a decision on a possible valve may be ready.
What happens now?
Several young adults have appealed the deportation decisions to the migration courts, and the Migration Court of Appeal has granted leave to appeal in a case that may have an impact on more cases. The Migration Board sees this as positive, as these are difficult cases and they want clarity on how they will be assessed going forward.
