The government of Sweden has announced plans to significantly increase the deportation of foreign nationals convicted of crimes, proposing that any offence punishable beyond a fine could lead to removal from the country.
Migration Minister Johan Forssell said the current system had been too lenient, arguing that foreign offenders had not been dealt with firmly enough.
Under the proposed law, prosecutors would be required to request deportation as part of sentencing, rather than leaving it to their discretion.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe government estimates the changes could raise the number of deportations to around 3,000 per year, compared with the current average of about 500.
The bill will be submitted to the Council on Legislation for review before being presented to parliament. Officials say they hope the law could come into force by 1 September.
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The move comes as Sweden continues to grapple with organised violent crime, including gang-related shootings and bombings linked to disputes over the drug trade.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, whose government took office in 2022 with support from the Sweden Democrats, has pledged to tighten both immigration and criminal justice policies.
His administration has already expanded police powers, introduced tougher sentencing, and proposed lowering the age of criminal responsibility as part of efforts to curb youth crime.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
