Sweden Eases Rules After Teenage Deportation Cases

The Swedish government has announced changes to immigration rules that have drawn criticism in recent years over so-called “teenage deportations”, Euronews reported. The measures are intended to prevent young people who have grown up in Sweden from being ordered to leave the country after turning 18, even when their parents have residence permits.

Under the previous system, children of asylum seekers could be granted only temporary residence permits. After turning 18, they had to prove their right to remain again, and some were ordered by the authorities to leave Sweden even though their families were allowed to stay.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s government, together with the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, has now agreed to ease the rules. The age at which migrant children are treated as adults will be raised from 18 to 21. Those who have already been ordered to leave the country will also be given a new chance to obtain a residence permit.

Migration Minister Johan Forssell described the reform as an important step that would allow young people to continue studying, working and integrating into society. However, he stressed that Sweden would continue to enforce a “very strict asylum policy”.

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