The Swedish parliament this week passed a law allowing authorities to revoke the residence permits of immigrants based on misconduct, such as unpaid debts, undeclared work or links to extremist organizations. The so-called “good conduct legislation” is strongly criticized by human rights organizations and the opposition.
Source: Reuters, The Guardian
The new legislation would not only apply to future residents, but would also apply retroactively to current residents of the country. “Anyone who doesn’t bother to do the right thing should not count on being allowed to stay,” Sweden’s migration minister, Johan Forssel, said in March when he introduced the bill.
While the law does not specifically state what behavior is considered unacceptable, the government has previously cited examples such as unpaid debts, crime, failure to pay taxes and ties to extremist organizations. The Swedish Immigration Service is responsible for assessing the permits. Any decisions can be appealed.
Criticism
The legislation has come under fierce criticism from various quarters. “The law on good conduct leaves people in the dark about what actions or expressions can be used against them,” the Stockholm-based group Civil Rights Defenders said in a statement. “It undermines the rule of law and the principle of equality before the law.”
“Click chip law”
With 174 votes in favor and 172 votes against, parliament also approved a controversial “click chip law” with a narrow majority, which was first discussed in 2024. The law obliges officials to report anyone they suspect does not have a residence permit. The Swedish government defends the measure, arguing that the law is necessary to ensure that people who are not legally allowed to stay in Sweden can be returned to their home country.
The European Public Service Union (EPU) opposes the idea of workers being forced to act as informants. According to Jan Willem Goudriaan of the union, this is not the time for a “new witch hunt”. The new law would fuel a climate of “distrust, fear and racism,” he added, while threatening the fundamental right to asylum.
After widespread criticism, teachers, doctors and social workers have been exempted from the reporting requirement. However, employees of the tax authorities and social services are among the groups that must alert the police if they have reason to believe that they have been in contact with people without a residence permit.