Sweden announces plan to deport thousands of rejected asylum seekers

The Swedish Migration Agency has unveiled a new plan targeting the deportation of thousands of rejected asylum seekers, undocumented migrants, and Dublin Regulation refugees.

By the end of 2024, around 7,800 people are expected to be deported voluntarily, with an additional 8,000 deportations projected for 2025.

In a statement, the agency clarified that the plan focuses on those whose asylum applications have been withdrawn or rejected, alongside Dublin refugees and illegal migrants.

Maria Mindhammar, Director-General of the Swedish Migration Agency, confirmed the government’s request to expedite deportations, noting efforts to expand return centers and detention facilities to enforce forced removals.

The Swedish government had also introduced a financial incentive in September, offering 350,000 SEK (around $34,000) to migrants willing to return voluntarily to their home countries in exchange for renouncing their residency or citizenship.

These measures aim to reduce the number of refugees in Sweden amid growing pressures on the government to address migration and asylum issues.