Sweden considering deportation of immigrants over drug abuse, association with gangs or anti-cultural statements

Sweden has said it wants to introduce new requirements that would allow the deportation of asylum-seekers and immigrants for substance abuse, association with criminal groups or statements threatening Swedish values.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s minority rightwing government came to power a year ago vowing to crack down on immigration and crime.

“A prerequisite for successful integration is that people who want to live in Sweden also adhere to basic norms and live in an honest and well-behaved way,” Migration Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told a press conference.

Paulina Brandberg, Minister for Gender Equality, told reporters the government would review Swedish legislation to determine if there were specific grounds for revoking residence permits.

However, she listed potential examples of “shortcomings in lifestyles,” including benefits fraud, debt, a dishonest livelihood, substance abuse, as well as association with criminal networks or violent and extremist groups “threatening basic Swedish values”.

Brandberg said the review would also look into “whether it’s possible and appropriate to include statements that seriously threaten basic Swedish democratic values.”

“If there is something other than these democratic values you wish for, or even actively work against what Sweden stands for, then it is simply not here you should live,” Brandberg said.

“A basic principle of Swedish immigration law is that only Swedish citizens have an unconditional right to reside in Sweden,” Ludvig Aspling, migration spokesman for the Sweden Democrats, told reporters.

Speaking to public broadcaster Sveriges Radio, Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer also announced a probe looking at increasing powers on revoking citizenship.

This could entail situations where a person had committed serious crimes, such as terrorism, or cases where a person had either used threats, lies or bribes to obtain citizenship.

In some cases, cancelling someone’s Swedish citizenship could render them stateless.

“I myself see no objection to it. But it’s part of a review, and we’ll see what it comes up with,” Strommer told the radio.