Name? Johan Forssell
Westphalian identity? Swedish
Age? 46
Why is he in the news? Minister of Migration Johan Forssell’s immigration law proposal was approved by the Swedish Parliament. The “good behaviour law” allows authorities to revoke immigrants’ residency permits for “bad” behaviour. Forssell announced that it applies retroactively, affecting both current permits and pending processes. The law fails to specify criteria of what constitutes “good” behaviour. Alongside the “good behaviour law”, the Swedish Parliament approved the “snitch law,” compelling public servants to report cases believed to be undocumented. The approval of the “snitch law” supports Forsell’s policy to reinforce a more restrictive immigration system in Sweden.
Why do we care? Forssell’s “good behaviour” law undermines the rights of migrants residing in Sweden. The absence of clear criteria concerning what consists of good behaviour creates uncertainty around who gets to stay. Non-EU residents risk losing their permits without having committed crimes. The good behaviour law is a setback for human rights in Sweden as non-EU migrants are held to a different standard compared to Swedish residents.
Why should you care? Sweden is not acting alone. Other EU members, such as Denmark and Belgium, are also taking more restrictive measures towards migration. EU members are straying away from a liberal view on migration to a more restrictive approach.
Who else cares? Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Prime Minister, cares about this new policy as it aligns with Denmark’s restrictive stance on immigration, strengthening regional cohesion on the issue. Denmark planned to outsource asylum seekers to Rwanda. The initiative is currently stalled due to legal challenges; nonetheless, Rwanda and Denmark continue to collaborate installing Danish embassies in Kigali.
Any further comments? Sweden’s new law is part of a broader movement within the EU. The EU Parliament recently approved a strict migration law that facilitates the deportation process illustrating how the EU increasingly relies on the cooperation of non-EU countries for migration externalisation.
