Square in the center of Stockholm, Sweden
The law does not specify what types of behavior are considered unacceptable, but the government has cited unpaid debts, tax non-compliance, crime and links to extremist organizations.
The Swedish Parliament approved this Monday a law that allows authorities revoke residence permits of immigrants based on “bad behavior”.
The law, which covers pending processes and also applies retroactively to authorizations already granted, is part of a broader tightening of rules of immigration by the right-wing government and the party that supports it, the nationalist Sweden Democrats, as legislative elections approach, which will take place in September.
The law has been criticized by the oppositiono and by human rights organizations, who consider it arbitrary, since decisions could be taken based on behaviors that were not considered criminal, note a.
“The law of good behavior leaves people in uncertainty about what actions or expressions can be used against them,” the Stockholm-based organization said in a statement. “It calls into question the rule of law and the principle of equality before the law.”
“It is regrettable that the Swedish parliament has chosen a path that divides people between ‘us’ and ‘them’instead of working towards strong protection of the rights of all”, John StaufferLegal Director of the NGO, in a statement published after the law was approved.
“The introduction of the criminal record requirement weakens Sweden as a constitutional state. Legal certainty, the principle of legality and the principle of equality before the law are undermined”, added Stauffer.
The government, which won the 2022 elections with the promise of reducing immigration and combating crime, has argued that “people who behave badly” or commit crimes are not welcome.
The law does not specify what types of behavior are considered unacceptable, but the government has reported unpaid debts, tax non-compliancecrime and links to extremist organizations.
The Swedish Migration Agency will be responsible for review authorizationsbeing possible appeal decisions to a migration court.
“Who doesn’t strive to do what is right should not be able to count on the possibility of staying”, stated the Minister of Migration, Johan Forssellwhen he presented the bill in March.
