The Government Reverses Deportation of Young People – Introduces a ‘Safety Valve’

Following an intense media campaign ahead of the election on the so-called teenage deportations, the Tidö government is backing down. At a press conference on Monday, a new set of regulations was presented.
– We have reached an agreement on a solution that I think is good, says Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M).

The so-called teenage deportations have become one of this year’s most hotly debated migration issues. It involves young people who came to Sweden with their families and who have often lived here for several years, attended Swedish schools, and established themselves in society.

However, when they turn 18, they are no longer automatically counted as children in the family’s migration case. In some instances, this has led to parents and younger siblings being allowed to stay in Sweden while the now-adult son or daughter has been rejected and risked being deported alone.

The background is changes to the Aliens Act and the rules for family immigration. Critics argue that the regulations have had consequences that lawmakers did not intend, and that families are being split up despite strong ties to Sweden. Over the winter, criticism grew from several parties, organizations, and lawyers, and the issue also created tensions within the Tidö collaboration. The opposition demanded an immediate halt to the deportations, while the government instead worked out a so-called safety valve that would give more young people the opportunity to obtain residence permits.

In March, the government and the Sweden Democrats decided to pause the processing of the relevant cases pending new legislation. Work then continued on a permanent solution, and now the Tidö parties have agreed on new rules.

The Safety Valve is Here

– A short while ago, the government made a decision in the important matter of finding a safety valve for those teenagers we have been discussing for some time and who have risked being harmed by the family migration reforms, says Ulf Kristersson (M).

The new rules:

Youths aged between 18 and 21 will be able to obtain residence permits due to their connection to their parents, an increase from today’s 18-year limit. This will make it possible for young people to finish high school and improve their chances of meeting the requirements for their own residence permits later.

It will be possible for people who have already received a final deportation decision after January 1, 2025, to apply for a new residence permit. This can be done without first having to leave Sweden, and can also be done from abroad for those who have already left.

Building a Future in Sweden

“Young people who do everything right should get a chance to build their future in Sweden,” writes the Prime Minister on social media.

“More than a year ago, we began work on finding a solution for those teenagers who have fallen between the cracks due to the legislative changes made in 2016 and 2021. Today, we are presenting that legislative proposal.”

According to Ulf Kristersson, Sweden should “be a country for those who do the right thing and where effort pays off – regardless of who you are or where you come from,” and “hard-working people who want to become part of Sweden should be welcomed into our society.”

The proposal will be presented as a bill for parliament to consider over the summer.

The press conference: