Refugee crisis: Sweden prepares to 'expel up to 80,000 asylum seekers'
Along with Germany, Sweden received the largest number of asylum seekers in 2015
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sweden is preparing to expel up to 80,000 asylum seekers who sought refuge in the country last year, according to its interior minister.
In an interview with Swedish newspaper Dagens Industri published today, Anders Ygeman said he estimated that about 60,000 to 80,000 of 2015’s record number of asylum seekers would be expelled and forcibly deported or would voluntarily leave after their applications were rejected.
It is feared by the government that many of those who will leave will go into hiding, according to the newspaper.
“We have a big challenge ahead of us. We will need to use more for this and we must have better cooperation between authorities,” Mr Ygemen was quoted as saying.
“I think that it could be about 60,000 people, but it could also be up to 80,000.”
The minister said the asylum seekers would be removed from the country by charter aircraft, but that the process would take many years.
His spokesman Victor Harju later confirmed Mr Ygemen’s estimate, adding that the minister was simply applying the current approval rate to the record number of asylum seekers that arrived in 2015 and that the “rate could of course change”.
This week, Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Lofven pledged more resources for the police to deal with the country’s refugees.
The Scandinavian nation reversed its open doors-policy on immigration late last year and has since introduced border controls and identification checks to slow the flow of asylum seekers.
At the end of last year, Sweden's migration minister Morgan Johansson said: “We’re willing to do more than anyone else. But even we have our limits.
“We can handle the 160,000 people who came this year. But we can’t handle it if there are another 160,000 people next year.
“Our whole asylum system would break down.”
Around 163,000 asylum applications were made in 2015 in Sweden, which, along with Germany, has been one of the top destinations for refugees and migrants entering the EU.
On Tuesday, 22-year-old Alexandra Mezher, a staff member at an asylum shelter for unaccompanied children near Gothenburg, was stabbed to death.
A 15-year-old asylum seeker was arrested on suspicion of murder.
Additional reporting by Reuters
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments