Sweden proposes ‘honest living’ rule for immigrants; deportation risk for violations

Sweden’s government has proposed a new law that would require migrants to follow an “honest living” standard, with failure to comply potentially leading to deportation, as part of wider immigration reforms ahead of elections in September. As reported by AFP, The proposal would also make it easier to withdraw residence permits and could take effect from July 13 if approved by parliament.

Government links residency to conduct

The right-wing government, which came to power in 2022 with a focus on stricter immigration policies, said the measure aims to ensure migrants follow rules and act responsibly.

“Following laws and rules is a given, but it must also be a given that we do our best to live responsibly and not harm our country,” Migration Minister Johan Forssell said, as quoted by AFP.


“If, for example, you ignore paying your debts, if you don't comply with decisions from Swedish authorities, if you cheat the benefits system, if you cheat your way to a Swedish residence permit... then you do not have the right to be here,” he added.

The government said other violations could include working without paying taxes or failing to pay fines. It also proposed broader powers to revoke residence permits in cases where migrants are seen as a threat or found to have provided false information in applications.

Concerns raised over legal clarity

Ludvig Aspling, migration policy spokesman for the Sweden Democrats, said statements made by individuals would not alone be grounds for action but could indicate other concerns.

“Statements -- that is, things a person says or expresses -- should not in themselves be regarded as evidence of lack of honest living, but they may be an indication of, for example, links to violent extremism, which can then be a sign of deficient character,” he said.

Rights group Civil Rights Defenders raised concerns over the proposal, saying it could affect legal equality and freedom of expression.

“The fact that non-criminalised statement may also be taken into account, even if they cannot constitute an independent ground for a lack of honest living, raises particularly serious concerns,” said John Stauffer, the group’s legal director.

“Such an arrangement may have a chilling effect on freedom of expression and lead to increased self-censorship,” he added.

He said the proposal could create unequal standards between citizens and migrants. “In practice, this creates different rules depending on who you are, which runs counter to fundamental principles of equality before the law,” Stauffer said.

(With inputs from AFP)