Sweden boosts immigrant repatriation payouts

Sweden proposes to increase payouts to immigrants who leave the country, which has been a shelter for the war-weary and persecuted, by up to $34,000, the right-wing administration announced Thursday.

The Scandinavian country was long seen as a humanitarian giant, but it has failed to assimilate many of its newcomers.

The proposed increase in payouts comes at a time when Sweden is grappling with the challenges of integrating a large immigrant population. Over the past few decades, the country has welcomed hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants, many fleeing conflict and persecution in their home countries. However, this influx has strained Sweden's social services and led to growing concerns about cultural integration and social cohesion.

Immigrants who willingly return to their home countries beginning in 2026 will be entitled for up to 350,000 Swedish kronor (US$34,000), according to the government, which is backed by the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats.

We are in the midst of a paradigm shift in our migration policy, migration minister Johan Forssell told reporters as the government unveiled its latest measure to curb migration.

Currently, immigrants can get up to 10,000 kronor per adult and 5,000 kronor per kid, with a maximum of 40,000 kronor per family. Immigrant organizations could not immediately be reached for comment on the policy.

According to Ludvig Aspling of the Sweden Democrats, the award has been around since 1984, but it is very unknown, modest, and used by few people. Forssell stated that only one person accepted the offer last year. Aspling went on to say that if more people were aware of the grant and its size was increased, more would likely accept it and depart.

He predicted that the incentive would appeal to the hundreds of thousands of migrants who were either long-term unemployed, jobless, or had such low wages that they relied on state subsidies to make ends meet.

Aspling stated, "That is the group we believe would be interested."

Critics of the policy argue that it may be seen as a form of "paid deportation" and could potentially violate international human rights laws. They contend that instead of encouraging immigrants to leave, the government should focus on improving integration efforts and addressing the root causes of unemployment and social exclusion among immigrant communities. Some experts also warn that such a policy could lead to a "brain drain" if skilled immigrants who have contributed to the Swedish economy decide to take advantage of the payout and leave.

A government-appointed study last month warned the government against considerably increasing the grant amount, stating that the predicted effectiveness did not warrant the possible expenses.

The Nordic nation has fought for years to integrate immigrants, and the director of the probe, Joakim Ruist, stated that a significant financial rise would send the message that migrants were undesired, further impeding integration efforts.

Other European countries provide payments as incentives for migrants to return home. Denmark pays more than US$15,000 per individual, compared to approximately US$1,400 in Norway, US$2,800 in France, and US$2,000 in Germany.

Sweden's conservative Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson took power in 2022 with a minority coalition administration supported by the Sweden Democrats, vowing to crack down on immigration and crime.

In that election, the Sweden Democrats won 20.5% of the vote, becoming the country's second-largest party. Sweden has provided considerable international development funding since the 1970s and has welcomed huge numbers of migrants since the 1990s.

The majority of Sweden's immigrants have come from conflict-ridden nations such as the former Yugoslavia, Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia, Iran, and Iraq. At the height of Europe's migration crisis in 2015, Sweden received 160,000 asylum seekers, the most per capita in the EU.

The 2015 migration crisis had a profound impact on Swedish society and politics. It led to a surge in support for right-wing parties, particularly the Sweden Democrats, who campaigned on a platform of stricter immigration controls and faster deportations of failed asylum seekers. The crisis also exposed weaknesses in Sweden's integration policies and social welfare system, which struggled to cope with the sudden influx of newcomers. Many Swedes began to question the country's traditionally open approach to immigration, leading to a shift in public opinion and political discourse.

With substantially greater rates of unemployment among those born abroad, Sweden's income disparities had grown, putting a pressure on the country's comprehensive cradle-to-grave welfare system.

The 2015 migration crisis marked a watershed moment, with the then-Social Democratic government admitting shortly thereafter that it could no longer maintain its open door policies.

Since then, both left and right-wing governments have implemented a host of measures to reduce migration, including awarding only temporary residence permits to asylum applicants, tightening family reunion rules, and raising income requirements for non-EU residents seeking work visas.

Kristersson's government also intends to make it easier to deport migrants for substance addiction, association with criminal organizations, or utterances that endanger Swedish values.

As Sweden grapples with these complex issues, the proposed increase in payouts for voluntary repatriation reflects a broader trend across Europe of tightening immigration policies. However, the effectiveness and ethical implications of such measures remain hotly debated. While some view them as necessary steps to address social and economic challenges, others argue that they risk undermining Sweden's long-standing commitment to humanitarian values and international solidarity. The coming years will likely see continued debate and policy adjustments as Sweden seeks to balance its humanitarian traditions with the realities of managing a diverse and rapidly changing society.