Immigration Detention in Sweden

  • Authored by:

    Global Detention Project and Global Detention Project

  • Type of publication:

    Country Reports

  • Download document:

    sweden.pdf (442.88 KB)

For many years, Sweden was lauded for its comparatively humane treatment of undocumented migrants and asylum seekers. However, reflecting a wave of get-tough policies announced by other European countries in the wake of the Syrian refugee crisis, in early 2016 Sweden announced that it was introducing new border controls and planning to deport an estimated 80,000 non-citizens who fail to qualify for refugee status.