What happened
On Tuesday, all eight parties in the Riksdag backed a decision to investigate the so-called teenage deportations. The opposition parties S, V, C and MP demand that the deportations be stopped entirely. Meanwhile, Migrationsverket announced that the agency does not intend to take any measures before new legislation has entered into force, something that could take many months. Due to the situation, Minister for Migration Johan Forssell has now been summoned to the Riksdag.
Our analysis
The decision exposes a serious rift between the parties' unity in the Riksdag and Migrationsverket's continued enforcement. The fact that all eight Riksdag parties support an investigation changes nothing in practice as long as Migrationsverket refuses to pause ongoing cases. Mainstream news reporting often highlights the political unity, but fails to account for the cost to the young people who risk being deported during the many months required for a change in the law. When the agency chooses inaction, the responsibility shifts directly to the government. Now, Minister for Migration Johan Forssell is summoned to the Riksdag, and it is up to him whether the deportations will be allowed to continue while the investigation is underway.
Explained
Migrationsverket is the government agency responsible for examining applications for residence permits and executing deportation decisions.