On June 15 (Stockholm time), according to The Guardian, the Swedish Parliament voted to pass a series of new laws to tighten the country's immigration policy.
The new regulations allow the government to revoke residence permits based on the criterion of "inappropriate behavior", and at the same time require many public sector employees to report people suspected of illegal residence.
This move takes place in the context of Sweden preparing to hold parliamentary elections in September. The center-right government is relying on the support of the right-wing Swedish Democratic Party to maintain power.
On the evening of June 15, the Swedish Parliament passed the "appropriate behavior" law. This law applies to people applying for residence, files awaiting processing and in many cases can also be applied to people who have resided in Sweden.
Immigration Minister Johan Forssell once said in March: "Those who do not strive to do the right thing should not expect to stay.
However, the law does not clearly stipulate which acts are considered inappropriate. The previous government only mentioned some examples such as unpaid debts, not paying taxes, committing crimes or having links to extremist organizations.
The review of the residence permit will be carried out by the Swedish Immigration Agency and decisions may be appealed.
This law has faced strong criticism from opposition politicians and human rights organizations, who argue that the criteria set out are too vague and easily lead to arbitrary application.
Amnesty International warns that the new law could cause residency permits to be rejected or revoked based on acts that are not considered illegal for Swedish citizens.
The Civil Rights Defenders organization based in Stockholm argues that this law weakens the rule of law and makes people unaware of what actions or statements can be used against them.
The Swedish Parliament also passed with a very narrow margin - 174 votes in favor and 172 votes against - another controversial law, often called the "pointing law".
According to this law, many public sector employees will have to report to the authorities if they suspect someone does not have legal residence papers.
Critics warn that the new law could negatively affect the physical and mental health of immigrants, while increasing the risk of racial discrimination.
After the wave of criticism, teachers, doctors and social workers have been exempted from reporting obligations. However, tax, employment and social insurance officials still have to notify the police if they are suspected of contacting people without legal residence papers.
Observers believe that the new regulations may continue to spark debate about the balance between immigration management and human rights protection in Europe.
