A authorities inquiry suggests increasing the “voluntary repatriation” scheme to incorporate naturalized Swedes
Sweden might broaden a program beneath which migrants struggling to combine into society are inspired to depart, based on a proposal submitted to Immigration Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard.
The so-called “voluntary repatriation” scheme at the moment in place in Sweden affords refugees and migrants a one-time cost of 10,000 Swedish krona (roughly $960) per grownup and 5,000 per baby, plus journey prices, if they comply with depart the nation.
Nevertheless, a fee of inquiry has really useful increasing this program to incorporate not solely holders of momentary or everlasting residence permits – but additionally naturalized Swedish residents and their relations.
The report, submitted this week, additionally advised implementing a reimbursement requirement for many who acquired the money however didn’t depart. On the similar time, it rejected a proposal to lift the quantity, resulting from issues that it’d ship a “unsuitable sign” to migrants that they’re “not welcome” in Sweden.
“The investigation’s proposal will now be analyzed on the Ministry of Justice,” Minister of Migration Maria Malmer Stenergard wrote on X (previously Twitter), acknowledging that the present program has been ineffective, with only a few folks conscious of the out there assist.
Sweden’s foreign-born inhabitants has doubled within the final twenty years and, as of 2023, quantities to over 2.15 million, which is greater than a fifth of the nation’s whole. Nevertheless, after receiving a file variety of immigrants in 2015, Stockholm imposed restrictions that made the nation’s immigration coverage one of many hardest in Europe.
Because of this, final yr, for the primary time in over 5 many years, extra folks left Sweden than arrived, based on Stenergard. “We see that many to migrate even with out receiving assist,” she mentioned. “Just lately, I offered figures exhibiting that final yr we noticed web emigration for the primary time in over 50 years.”
“For individuals who haven’t built-in into Swedish society, return migration could be a technique to create a greater life for themselves,” she added. “It’s certainly one of a number of methods to attain sustainable immigration that strengthens integration and reduces exclusion.”
