When migration is discussed, top Social Democrat officials often claim that it was the Social Democrats who revised immigration policy in the wake of the 2015 migrant crisis, and that thanks to them, the pressure on the asylum system is now the lowest since the mid-1980s. However, when it comes to even scratching the surface to try to address the consequences of decades of failed migration policy, the answer is no.

Soon, several of the government’s and the Sweden Democrats’ proposals for additional tightening in the area of migration will be considered by Parliament. Among these are things like phasing out permanent residence permits, requirements on good conduct, and obligations for government employees to report illegal immigrants. These are also matters the Social Democrats will vote no to.

According to the party’s migration policy spokesperson, Ida Karkiainen, the Tidö government is “creating regulatory chaos in migration legislation,” where several parts “risk legal certainty and people risk being seriously harmed by this.”

When it comes to phasing out permanent residence permits, the Social Democrats categorically say no, arguing that it would make it harder for those who want to apply for Swedish citizenship.

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“You can’t just phase out permanent residence permits without a plan for how people will be able to obtain Swedish citizenship. More people will end up living in a temporary situation and it will be difficult to understand what the path to Swedish citizenship will look like,” Ida Karkiainen told Dagens Nyheter.

The party also says it wants to abolish permanent residence permits “in the long term” but only after what they call a functioning transition arrangement is in place.

Before the Tidö government’s proposals are presented to Parliament, they will be prepared in the Committee on Social Insurance. According to Karkiainen, it is known that there are both Christian Democrats and Liberals who do not fully share the government’s views.

Warning About a Social Democrat Government

Minister for Migration, Johan Forssell (Moderates), who is leading efforts to normalize Swedish immigration policy after decades of open borders and a lack of controls, is critical of the Social Democrats’ actions.

“It is a betrayal of all the decent and law-abiding people in our country who deserve a real chance to fully become part of Swedish society. Voters no longer have to guess where the Social Democrats stand on migration policy. With them, asylum immigration will increase markedly,” he told DN.

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