What happened
WHAT HAPPENED: Migrationsverket has rejected a request from the police to deport a researcher at Lunds universitet. The researcher, who is a German-Hungarian citizen and moved to Sweden in 2019, has participated in several climate actions involving civil disobedience. The police claimed in their request that the man posed a threat to the democratic order in Sweden. Prior to this, the border police had stopped him on two occasions without any suspicion of a crime to investigate his right to stay in the country. Migrationsverket stated in its decision that the researcher has caused no harm to persons or property and that there are no grounds for deportation.
Our analysis
OUR ANALYSIS: The police attempting to use deportation as a punishment against peaceful protesters is a serious step. When border police stop someone on their way to work without any suspicion of a crime, it sends a signal that the right to remain in the country can be questioned at any time. The police attempted to turn civil disobedience for the climate into a threat to democracy. Migrationsverket's refusal sets a much-needed limit on institutional overreach, but the question remains why the police spent resources chasing a researcher instead of defending civil rights.
Explained
EXPLAINED: As a citizen of an EU country, one has the right to live and work in Sweden under the principle of free movement. In order to deport an EU citizen, very strong grounds related to public order and public security are required.
Source: The Local Sweden