Sweden Allowed Revocation of Residence Permits Due to "Misconduct"
The Swedish Parliament supported a law that allows the revocation of immigrants' residence permits due to so-called misconduct. This concerns, in particular, unpaid debts, working without official registration, or contacts with extremist organizations, Reuters reports.
The new rules apply both to already issued permits and those under consideration. The law is part of a broader tightening of migration policy by the ruling coalition and its allies from the right-wing populist party "Sweden Democrats" ahead of the parliamentary elections in September.
The document has faced criticism from the opposition and human rights defenders, who consider it too vague and allowing room for arbitrary decisions, as it takes into account behavior that is not always a criminal offense.
The human rights organization "Civil Rights Defenders" in Stockholm stated that the new rules create uncertainty for migrants about which actions or statements may be grounds for losing their residence permit, which, in their opinion, undermines the rule of law and equality before the law.
At the same time, the Swedish government, which came to power in 2022 promising to reduce immigration and strengthen the fight against crime, states that residence permits should not be retained by persons who violate rules or laws.
The law does not define an exhaustive list of "unacceptable behavior," but the government cites examples such as debts, tax evasion, crimes, and ties to extremist groups. The Migration Agency will conduct permit checks, and its decisions can be appealed in the migration court.
Migration Minister Johan Forssell, during the bill presentation, stated that those who do not comply with established rules should not expect to remain in the country.
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