Reducing the shadow society has been an important priority for the government and the SD during the mandate period.
The parties are now presenting several proposals for legal changes that will make it easier for the authorities to find people in the country without permission.
This is partly about a duty to provide information between authorities, and partly about new tools for the police to check people and investigate their identity.
If we do not deal with the shadow society, it will take hold and be cemented, says Migration Minister Johan Forssell (M).
Those responsible report
The information obligation shall cover six authorities, including the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, which shall be obliged to provide information to the police on their own initiative.
The issue has been one of the most contentious between the Tidö parties. Above all, the SD wanted it to also include employees in healthcare, schools and social services. Critics have called this a "disclosure law" and teachers, among others, protested. In November 2024, the four parties finally agreed that these sectors would be exempted.
When asked whether there could be reprisals against employees who do not comply with the obligation, Forssell replies:
If it doesn't work, other measures may be taken in the future, but today we have no reason to believe that this would be the case.
The government also proposes that the police be allowed to carry out internal checks on foreigners in more cases, and be given more tools to establish a person's identity. A completely new measure is that mobile phones can be searched to find ID documents. Ludvig Aspling (SD) points out that a clear identity is often a prerequisite for deportation.
V: Withdraw
According to the government, there are estimates that over 100,000 people may be in the shadow society in Sweden. The group includes everything from security threats and criminals to people who are being harmed and exploited.
The legislative amendments are proposed to come into force on July 13 this year.
The Left Party is critical and demands that the proposal for a duty to provide information be withdrawn. Although healthcare is exempted, they believe that it will affect healthcare seekers, such as women giving birth, whose children must be registered with the Swedish Tax Agency.
"We cannot have a situation where women do not dare to go to the hospital when they are about to give birth, so that the child can be registered with the authority that will act as the informant," says Tony Haddou (V).
Facts: Four measures
The government and the SD are making four proposals that they hope will reduce the shadow society and get more people to return.
1. Duty to provide information
The Swedish Employment Agency, the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, the Swedish Prison and Probation Service, the Swedish Enforcement Authority, the Swedish Pensions Agency and the Swedish Tax Agency will be required to provide information to the police if they discover people who do not have the right to reside in Sweden.
2. New rules for internal immigration controls
Instead of "reasonable" reasons to assume that a foreigner lacks the right to be in Sweden, a reason should suffice. Tips, intelligence and risk profiles should be taken into account.
3. New tools to establish identity
Among other things, a completely new authority for the police to search a person's mobile phone. The search will also be allowed to take place in connection with an internal alien check.
4. Fingerprints and photos in more cases
To be stored in all applications for residence permits and citizenship. Photos taken by the Migration Board should also be able to be compared with the police's biometric register.
Source: Government
