The government of Sweden announced on Thursday that they will be substantially increasing their repatriation incentive for migrants from 10,000 Krona to 350,000 Krona per person, according to local media. This policy change is part of a wider strategy heralded by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s call for a “paradigm shift” in the nation’s immigration policies.
In his speech on Tuesday, Prime Minister Kristersson criticized Sweden’s historical approach to immigration as “poorly devised and unsustainable,” citing hundreds of gangs, violence, and parallel societies. He emphasized that facilitating voluntary repatriation can help mitigate social exclusion and its associated impacts on both Swedish society and individuals.
Kristersson stated, “We cannot accept Sweden being torn apart by social exclusion, gang violence, and parallel societies.” He elaborated, “Voluntary repatriation should also be heavily stimulated and increased. This can help reduce the number of people living in social exclusion and the consequences that social exclusion entails.” He suggested that aiding and informing those who have not integrated well into Swedish society, due to inadequate self-sufficiency or language skills, will promote more voluntary returns.
The speech highlights the wave of anti-immigration sentiment that fostered the rise of the moderate-far right coalition government now in power, which has prioritized tightening immigration policies. This shift is not unique to Sweden, as populist and anti-immigration policies have spread across the EU, contributing to political unrest in countries like the UK and the advent of the first far-right government in Germany since World War II.
The Swedish government’s new policy has faced scrutiny. An official inquiry into this policy, whose findings were released last month, did not recommend an increased incentive. The inquiry found limited economic benefits and significant financial costs associated with the policy. Additionally, societal concerns included sending unwelcoming messages to migrants and difficulties in identifying eligible groups for the grant.