In a bid to confront rising crime rates, Sweden is contemplating changes to its citizenship laws that would allow dual citizens who commit serious crimes to lose their Swedish citizenship.
Sweden Moves to Strip Citizenship from Criminal Threats
Sweden Moves to Strip Citizenship from Criminal Threats
Sweden proposes new citizenship laws aimed at tackling gang violence and national security threats.
Sweden is currently grappling with a significant surge in gang-related violence and gun crime, prompting a political consensus among major parties to reevaluate the nation's approach to citizenship for individuals deemed a threat to national security. A recently formed cross-party committee has put forth recommendations that allow for citizenship revocation in cases of criminals who obtained their status through deceitful means, such as bribery or false information, as well as those convicted of crimes against the state or that fall under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. However, the proposal does not extend to the government’s more radical suggestion of revoking citizenship for gang leaders coordinating crime from abroad, a measure that Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer regards insufficient in the fight against escalating violence and organized crime.
Currently, Swedish law does not permit the deprivation of citizenship, and any attempts to amend this will necessitate a parliamentary vote next year. Some political factions, particularly from the centre-left, argue that defining the parameters for such a law could present significant challenges and could be deemed excessive. Meanwhile, Sweden's centre-right parties, aligned with the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats, advocate for these changes as a critical response to the alarming spike in violent crime rates.
The ruling government highlights Denmark's legal framework, which permits the revocation of citizenship for actions detrimental to national interests, as a model worth emulating. In tandem with these proposed changes, Sweden is also instituting stricter regulations on citizenship applications; starting June 2026, residency requirements will increase from five to eight years, and applicants will need to pass tests on the Swedish language and society. Migration Minister Johan Forssell remarked that obtaining Swedish citizenship has been "far too easy," advocating for a strengthened sense of pride and community in national identity.
Furthermore, Sweden Democrats' leader Jimmie Akesson calls for a deeper commitment from new citizens, proposing a loyalty declaration, although this did not feature in the government's committee recommendations. Inquiry head Kirsti Laakso Utvik believes that these initiatives will align Sweden with other European nations in the ongoing fight against violent gang activities.
Currently, Swedish law does not permit the deprivation of citizenship, and any attempts to amend this will necessitate a parliamentary vote next year. Some political factions, particularly from the centre-left, argue that defining the parameters for such a law could present significant challenges and could be deemed excessive. Meanwhile, Sweden's centre-right parties, aligned with the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats, advocate for these changes as a critical response to the alarming spike in violent crime rates.
The ruling government highlights Denmark's legal framework, which permits the revocation of citizenship for actions detrimental to national interests, as a model worth emulating. In tandem with these proposed changes, Sweden is also instituting stricter regulations on citizenship applications; starting June 2026, residency requirements will increase from five to eight years, and applicants will need to pass tests on the Swedish language and society. Migration Minister Johan Forssell remarked that obtaining Swedish citizenship has been "far too easy," advocating for a strengthened sense of pride and community in national identity.
Furthermore, Sweden Democrats' leader Jimmie Akesson calls for a deeper commitment from new citizens, proposing a loyalty declaration, although this did not feature in the government's committee recommendations. Inquiry head Kirsti Laakso Utvik believes that these initiatives will align Sweden with other European nations in the ongoing fight against violent gang activities.
