Sweden passes laws allowing deportation for 'bad behaviour' and requiring public workers to report unauthorized migrants

Jun 15, 2026

Sweden's parliament has passed two controversial immigration laws backed by the far-right. One allows revoking residency permits for vaguely defined "bad behaviour," applying retroactively. The other, a "snitch law" passed 174-172, requires public workers to report undocumented migrants. Critics, including Amnesty International, warn the laws undermine the rule of law and human rights, creating a climate of fear.

Swedish residency permit revocation

▪Sweden's parliament passed a law on June 15, 2026, allowing authorities to revoke residency permits for "bad behaviour."
▪Sweden’s Minister of Migration, Johan Forssell, said of the bill that anyone not making an effort "shouldn’t be able to count on staying."
▪The Swedish migration agency will review permits under the new law, and its decisions can be appealed in court.
▪The "good behaviour" law applies retroactively to many current residents, as well as to pending and future permit applications.
▪The law does not define "bad behaviour," but the government has cited examples like unpaid debts, tax evasion, criminality, and links to extremist groups.

Far-right electoral influence

▪The Swedish government won the 2022 election on a platform of reducing immigration and cracking down on crime.
▪The Sweden Democrats party has stated its goal is to create one of Europe's most hostile environments for non-Europeans.
▪The new immigration laws were passed ahead of Sweden's parliamentary elections scheduled for September 2026.
▪Sweden's centre-right government relies on the support of the far-right Sweden Democrats party to govern.

Public worker reporting requirements

▪Teachers, doctors, and social workers are exempt from the reporting requirement following widespread criticism.
▪Employees at tax authorities, employment agencies, and social insurance agencies are among those required to report suspected undocumented migrants.
▪The Swedish government argues the reporting law is necessary to ensure people without legal residency can be sent to their home countries.
▪The reporting law, sometimes called the "snitch law," passed by a narrow margin of 174 votes in favor to 172 against.

Human rights concerns

▪Concerns have been raised that even with exemptions, information on undocumented migrants could flow between agencies, deterring them from seeking healthcare.
▪Critics warn the reporting law could negatively impact migrants' physical and mental health and increase racial profiling.

Rule of law undermining

▪The Stockholm-based group Civil Rights Defenders said the "good behaviour" legislation "undermines the rule of law."
▪Amnesty International stated the "good behaviour" law could lead to permits being revoked for actions not illegal for Swedish citizens.

European immigration policy comparisons

▪Since 2005, Germany has required some public offices, like welfare agencies, to report undocumented migrants, but schools and hospitals are exempt.
▪A 2018 report by the UK's National Audit Office concluded the "hostile environment" policies did not provide value for money.
▪In 2012, the UK introduced "hostile environment" policies to limit access to services for people who could not prove legal residency.