Thursday, February 26, 2026 - Sweden’s
government on Wednesday, announced plans to significantly expand the
deportation of immigrants convicted of crimes, proposing that, as a general
rule, any offence carrying a penalty higher than a fine should result in
expulsion.
Minister for Migration Johan Forssell said the current
system had been too lenient. “For far too long in Sweden, foreign criminals who
have committed serious crimes in the country have been coddled,” Forssell told
reporters at a press conference.
Under the proposed legislation, prosecutors would be
required to request deportation as part of sentencing in applicable cases,
rather than leaving the decision to their discretion. The government estimates
the changes could increase deportations to around 3,000 per year, roughly six
times the current annual average of about 500.
The bill will now be submitted to Sweden’s Council on
Legislation, which reviews draft laws before they are presented to parliament.
Forssell said the government intends for the law to take effect on September 1.
The move comes as Sweden continues to grapple with organised
violent crime, much of it linked to gang conflicts and competition over the
drug trade. While official statistics show a decline in deadly shootings,
bombings have reportedly increased.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s right-wing government, supported in parliament by the Sweden Democrats, came to power in 2022 pledging tougher policies on both immigration and crime. Since then, authorities have expanded police powers, introduced harsher sentencing measures and proposed lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13 as part of a broader crackdown on youth crime.
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