The Swedish Migration Agency opens to pause teenage deportations

S, V, MP and C have agreed on further details regarding the stop law for teenage deportations that they are working on developing.

- This means that the Swedish Migration Agency can look at our boundaries and think about what it will mean for future decisions, says Ida Karkiainen (S).

According to the red-greens, the stop law should apply to people who:

• Stayed legally in Sweden as a minor with his family

• Rejected an application for a residence permit from 20 July 2021 onwards

• After that, he has not intentionally avoided contact with the authorities and has an ongoing family connection in Sweden

However, the law shall not apply to persons who have received a deportation order due to a crime or who have been found by an authority decision or judgment to have had a dishonest way of life.

"Will not be thousands"

According to the red-green parties, it is not possible to say exactly how many people will be affected. But there are more than those who are covered by the valve that the Tidöpartierna introduced on October 1 this year.

- There won't be thousands of people, and it probably won't be ten either. But nowhere in between, says Ida Karkiainen (S).

Now the Riksdag's officials must work on developing the law. But exactly when it can be in place, the parties cannot answer.

- We are not talking about it taking nine to twelve months, but here we will push the schedule so that we have legislation in place as soon as possible, says Annika Hirvonen (MP).

The Swedish Migration Agency: "No doors closed"

The Swedish Migration Agency's director general, Maria Mindhammar, says after the meeting that she does not rule out temporarily stopping deportations pending new legislation.

- I have not closed any doors, but we will get back to you when there is an announcement, she says.

Before she can make a decision, she must learn the details of what the red-green parties have agreed on.

- I have only heard what they say to the media. When something formal comes from the committee, I will of course consider it.

Before the summer, the Swedish Migration Agency paused certain cases after the Tidöparties announced that they wanted to propose a so-called valve to prevent teenage deportations.

- There are no regulations that a director general should act as I did then, but it was out of goodwill. It was an active stance I took then.