Swedish border security will be allowed to search through migrant’s smartphones to look for any evidence of destroyed passports to accelerate deportations through a new law.
This law, backed by Sweden’s right-wing coalition government, is part of a campaign to speed up deportations of failed asylum seekers to bring down the numbers of migrants.
It is believed that migrants are being recruited by organised crime gangs.
Authorities believe migrants entering the country may have used their phones to take photos of their documents before destroying them upon arrival to the airport
Speaking to The Telegraph, Anders Hall, the state secretary for the ministry of justice said: “When you tear up your passport, you might keep a copy or a photo in your phone because sooner or later you might need it.
"This [law] will give the legal basis to make it possible to look for them.”
Other measures put in place include boosting voluntary repatriation and housing migrants in reception and return centres rather than private housing.
Naturalised citizens and families of migrants are also to be offered a large sum of money to leave the country, while accepted refugees must have their case reviewed every three years.
The coalition also introduced policies making it possible to strip criminals and terrorists with dual nationalities of their Swedish nationality.
Sweden has been tightening asylum rules since 2022 when conservative Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson took power.
His conservative coalition is backed by the right-wing Sweden Democrats party, which was partially founded by a neo-Nazi group.
Despite coming second in the 2022 election, they remain formally outside of government.
Anders Hall said the parties have a detailed agreement in terms of migration and law enforcement.
“The Sweden Democrats have more or less full insight into what we are doing. We are constantly having meetings with them, telling them where we are implementing,” he said.
He also pointed out that despite public outrage over Kristersson’s coalition with the Sweden Democrats, the opposition Social Democrats had not voted against a single measure against migration put forward by the current government.
Sweden is among the EU countries calling on tougher rules to make deportations easier.
The state secretary visited London this week to brief British officials on Sweden’s crackdown.
Find Out More...
This law, backed by Sweden’s right-wing coalition government, is part of a campaign to speed up deportations of failed asylum seekers to bring down the numbers of migrants.
It is believed that migrants are being recruited by organised crime gangs.
Authorities believe migrants entering the country may have used their phones to take photos of their documents before destroying them upon arrival to the airport
Speaking to The Telegraph, Anders Hall, the state secretary for the ministry of justice said: “When you tear up your passport, you might keep a copy or a photo in your phone because sooner or later you might need it.
"This [law] will give the legal basis to make it possible to look for them.”
Other measures put in place include boosting voluntary repatriation and housing migrants in reception and return centres rather than private housing.
Naturalised citizens and families of migrants are also to be offered a large sum of money to leave the country, while accepted refugees must have their case reviewed every three years.
The coalition also introduced policies making it possible to strip criminals and terrorists with dual nationalities of their Swedish nationality.
Sweden has been tightening asylum rules since 2022 when conservative Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson took power.
His conservative coalition is backed by the right-wing Sweden Democrats party, which was partially founded by a neo-Nazi group.
Despite coming second in the 2022 election, they remain formally outside of government.
Anders Hall said the parties have a detailed agreement in terms of migration and law enforcement.
“The Sweden Democrats have more or less full insight into what we are doing. We are constantly having meetings with them, telling them where we are implementing,” he said.
He also pointed out that despite public outrage over Kristersson’s coalition with the Sweden Democrats, the opposition Social Democrats had not voted against a single measure against migration put forward by the current government.
Sweden is among the EU countries calling on tougher rules to make deportations easier.
The state secretary visited London this week to brief British officials on Sweden’s crackdown.
Find Out More...