Sweden greenlights residency permit cancellations for migrants

Sweden’s parliament on June 15 passed legislation allowing authorities to revoke residence permits from immigrants, according to Reuters. 

Grounds for withdrawal may include improper conduct, outstanding debts, undeclared employment, or links to extremist organisations. Migrants will retain the right to appeal deportation decisions in Sweden’s migration courts.

The law applies to all immigrants, including those who obtained residence permits before the legislation was adopted. The initiative was championed by Migration Minister Johan Forssell.

Forssell argued that those who do not make an effort “to do the ⁠right thing ​shouldn't be able to count on ​staying.” 

Reuters noted that the measure forms part of a broader tightening of immigration rules introduced by Sweden’s government and backed by the nationalist Sweden Democrats.

The legislation has drawn criticism from opposition parties and human rights groups, which argue that residence permits could be revoked on the basis of actions that do not constitute criminal offences. 

Rights advocates contend that the law undermines the rule of law and the principle of equality before the law.

By Jeyhun Aghazada