The narrowly approved legislation mandates workers in six public agencies to report on suspected undocumented people
Sweden’s parliament has passed one of the country’s most definitive migration laws in years, approving the so-called “snitch law” by a razor-thin margin. The legislation came through as the EU nation, which used to be one of the most welcoming for refugees, adopted a stricter policy after the unprecedented 2015 migration crisis.
The parliament approved the legislation formally titled Strengthened Return Operations on Monday, by 174 votes to 172.
It was based on a government proposal to oblige employees of six public agencies – the Tax Agency, Employment Service, Social Insurance Agency, Pensions Agency, Enforcement Authority, and Prison and Probation Service – to proactively inform police if they have reason to believe a person lacks the right to reside in Sweden.
The law, which comes into force on July 13, will provide authorities with “better tools to enforce deportation and expulsion decisions.”
Authorities will also be permitted to seize and search a suspect’s mobile phone if it may contain identity information, and to expand the use of fingerprints and photographs.
The legislation was supported by the right-wing Sweden Democrats, the center-right Moderate Party, the Christian Democrats, and the Liberals. The Social Democrats, the Left Party, the Green Party, and the Center Party voted against.
Migration Minister Johan Forssell welcomed the law, saying that the proposal for increased information exchange could “reduce the inhumane shadow society.”
Critics, however, have warned that the law could erode public trust in the government and discourage vulnerable social groups from coming into contact with authorities.
“If the bill passes, we risk a whistleblower society with reduced trust in Swedish authorities. It would be extremely harmful to Swedish democracy,” John Stauffer, chief legal officer at Civil Rights Defenders, warned.
The initial version of the bill was even more sweeping, mandating schools, healthcare providers, and social services to report on suspected aliens, but it was amended after fierce pushback. The medical community was concerned, pointing out that the legislation violates doctor-patient ethics.
There are concerns that the law could still push undocumented people away from seeking medical aid, as information registered by healthcare workers is often shared with the Tax Agency or Social Insurance Agency and can still be used to track them.
Sweden’s migration policy has undergone a major shift since the 2015 refugee crisis, moving from a generous asylum system to a much more restrictive approach. In 2015 alone, Sweden, a country with around 10 million inhabitants, received around 163,000 asylum seekers – the highest per capita figure in Europe – though in recent years the numbers drastically decreased.
The reversal in migration policies culminated in the so-called 2022 Tido Agreement, when the mainstream ruling parties abandoned their traditional reluctance to cooperate with the Sweden Democrats, as the authorities prioritized expanded detention, accelerated returns, and deterrence measures.
