Stockholm, Sweden — A recent public inquiry in Sweden has sparked debate by suggesting that public sector workers should be mandated to report undocumented individuals, a move critics say infringes on human rights and could deepen migrants’ mistrust in state institutions. The recommendation is part of several measures being considered to enhance immigration control in Sweden, a nation currently navigating complex political dynamics influenced by the rise of the far-right Sweden Democrats (SD) party.
Following the 2022 elections, the SD, known for its stringent anti-immigration stance, achieved significant electoral success and now supports the current coalition government. This political leverage has allowed the SD to push for more rigid immigration enforcement measures, one of which led to the establishment of the public inquiry that has proposed this contentious “snitch law.”
The findings, made public recently, have specifically suggested that employees within the public employment, prison, and various enforcement sectors, along with those working for pension and tax agencies, should have a duty to inform immigration authorities if they suspect someone of residing in Sweden without legal permission. The recommendation dictates that such reports should be initiated by the workers themselves, without prior request from higher authorities.
Critics argue that these proposed measures could severely undermine the relationship between the public and the state. Dubbed “snitch laws,” they are viewed as tools that turn ordinary workers into extensions of immigration enforcement, thereby fostering an environment of suspicion and fear. This could lead individuals without proper immigration status to avoid interacting with state services, potentially pushing them into underground economies where they could face greater risks and exploitation.
Furthermore, the proposed law raises concerns about potential discrimination, especially against individuals who might appear foreign but live in Sweden legally. Historical precedents, such as the ‘hostile environment’ policy implemented in the United Kingdom in the early 2010s, have shown that such policies can lead to wrongful deportations and a breakdown in community trust. These U.K. policies required various sectors to perform immigration checks, resulting in significant distress among many legal residents, particularly those from Caribbean backgrounds.
In Sweden, the current proposal does not extend the reporting obligation to sectors deemed crucial, such as healthcare, education, and social services. Nonetheless, rights advocates and civil society groups fear the broader implications of even a limited version of this law. Michele LeVoy, Director of the Brussels-based charity Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants, highlighted the insidious nature of such obligations, noting that they can “foster a climate of fear and hostility,” which fundamentally undermines trust in public institutions.
The fear among scholars and policy specialists, like Jacob Lind, a postdoctoral researcher in international migration at Malmö University, is that once a basic framework for reporting is established, it could be easily expanded to include more sectors with less resistance, further widening the scope of the law.
As for the legislative future of this proposal, no definite timeline has been set for its introduction in the Swedish parliament. However, given the government’s historical tendency to follow through on public inquiry recommendations and the influence of the SD, the introduction of some form of legislation seems likely. Critics worry that the actual law, if passed, might even surpass the initial recommendations in its scope and severity.
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