The Swedish Migration Agency's staff are exposed in social media

The Migration Agency's employees receive calls on their private mobile phones and are named on social media. It has been going on for a long time - but has gotten worse recently, says Sarah Sjudin, section manager in Region West who handles citizenship cases.

- I think the climate has worsened. It sort of creeps closer and closer into the private lives of our employees.

This week, individual caseworkers have been named on social media in the matter of leftist Mohamed Ali's citizenship case. The Member of Parliament, who appears in an investigation into electoral fraud, was initially denied citizenship in 2024 due to debts. In 2026, his application was granted even though he still had debts.

In a post on X, a picture of Ali's citizenship certificate from February this year was shared. The names of the handlers are also visible on the document.

The Swedish Migration Agency writes in a letter to its employees that it takes a "serious view of postings on social media" due to a "matter of media interest". The authority also writes: "When examining citizenship cases, extensive checks and a solid investigation are carried out to ensure that the applicant meets the legal requirements to be granted citizenship."

Sarah Sjudin does not want to say whether it is Ali's case that the Swedish Migration Agency is referring to.

- I cannot comment on that. This happens from time to time and we think it is important that we go out and remind about it.

At the same time, she says that the authority takes a serious view of case managers and their cases being judged on social media.

- You are of course allowed to have opinions, but many lack the overall picture. Then it's very easy to sit and write on social media about something that you don't actually have a clue about. It will be like a bit of amateur handling. It is as if I were to sit here and judge how the police agency investigates crimes. I don't have that skill.

In some cases, people have been harassed in their home. What usually happens is that caseworkers' names are shared and that they receive calls and messages on social media.

- You can of course contact our employees on their service phone, but it is inappropriate to call their private phone.

Sara Sjudin says there have been no police reports from the authority.

Read more The Swedish Migration Agency is not pausing teenage deportations