As expected, six Swedish authorities will be obliged to report information on illegal immigrants to the police.
However, employees in schools, healthcare and social services are exempt from the reporting obligation – as are staff at the Swedish Economic Crime Authority and the Swedish Prosecution Authority.
According to the proposal, it is important to increase the exchange of information between Swedish authorities in order to catch migrants staying in Sweden illegally and to enforce deportations of people who have no right to be here.
“The proposal means, among other things, that the Swedish Public Employment Service, the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, the Prison and Probation Service, the Swedish Enforcement Authority, the Swedish Pensions Agency and the Swedish Tax Agency must, on their own initiative, provide information about a foreigner to the Swedish Police Authority if there is reason to assume that the foreigner does not have the right to reside in Sweden”, the government writes in a press release.
At the same time, several authorities are exempted from the reporting obligation – namely schools, health care, social services, the Swedish Economic Crime Authority, the Swedish Prosecution Authority, the Swedish Transport Agency and the Swedish National Service Center.
“Confidence risks being damaged”
According to the government’s investigators, the fact that school staff do not have to report illegal immigrants to the police is due to a “risk that children and young people will not be allowed or dare to exercise their right to schooling”.
A similar reasoning is given for exempting social services – if the authority’s staff report illegal migrants, there is a “risk of damaging confidence in social services”, it says, as well as a “risk that individuals will refrain from seeking support and help in emergency situations”.
– There is a risk that people will not dare to seek care or seek care too late if they know that information can be passed on. There is also a risk that if the information is about a communicable disease, it will contribute to the spread of infection in society, explains Anita Linder, the investigator, on why healthcare professionals are also exempt.
Legislative proposal to be presented
At the same time, a handful of authorities will be obliged to report people suspected of being here illegally, and the hope is that this will increase police efficiency.
– The information we think should be included is who the person is, their name and identification details. Information on where the foreigner is and contact details such as e-mail address or workplace. And why it is assumed that the person is in the country without permission, continues Anita Linder.
The government will now present a bill based on the conclusions of the investigation, which will then be sent out for consultation. All the governing parties are reportedly in general agreement on its reasoning and on which authorities should be exempt from the notification requirement.
