Sweden’s parliament has voted to pass a major immigration crackdown introducing a "good conduct" law and a controversial public reporting mandate.

 

Sweden approves immigration crackdown

Sweden’s parliament has voted to pass a major immigration crackdown introducing a "good conduct" law and a controversial public reporting mandate. The legislation represents a massive shift in Sweden's migration strategy under its current center-right coalition government, which relies on the nationalist Sweden Democrats.

📜 The "Good Conduct" Law

The Swedish Riksdag approved new guidelines that allow the Swedish Migration Agency to deny or revoke residence permits for foreign nationals who display "bad behavior" or fail to maintain an "honest living".

• Broad Criteria: Permits can be canceled over non-criminal actions, including unpaid debts, undeclared employment, tax non-compliance, or suspected associations with extremist groups or criminal networks.
• Retroactive Reach: The rule applies to new applicants, pending files, and retroactively to current residence permit holders.
• Appeals Route: Migrants can appeal revocation rulings through Sweden's migration courts.

🚨 The "Snitch Law" Mandate

Passed narrowly with a 174–172 vote, this highly controversial law requires public sector employees to notify police if they suspect an individual is living in Sweden without legal papers.

• Targeted Workers: Staff at tax offices, employment bureaus, and social insurance agencies must report undocumented individuals.
• Key Exemptions: Following heavy public backlash, teachers, doctors, and healthcare social workers were granted exemptions from the reporting mandate. [1, 2]

⚖️ Intense Public Debate

Supporters, including Migration Minister Johan Forssell, argue the rules restore social cohesion and ensure residency is treated as a privilege. Conversely, groups like Amnesty International and the Civil Rights Defenders criticize the laws as arbitrary, warning they undermine the rule of law and risk increasing racial profiling.