The Swedish Migration Agency has officially rejected a request from the Swedish Police Authority to deport a researcher who has been active in climate protests. The individual in question, David Alcer, is a German-Hungarian citizen employed at Lund University who has resided in Sweden since 2019.
Alcer has participated in various climate-related demonstrations since his arrival, including blocking an obstacle course race, protesting at the parliament, attempting to halt peat extraction, and storming the Melodifestivalen stage while carrying a sign that read "restore the wetlands."
Following his involvement in these activities, Alcer reported being stopped by Swedish border police on two separate occasions—once while traveling to work and another time while returning from a doctor's visit. During these encounters, he was taken to a police station to discuss his right to remain in Sweden, despite the fact that he was not under suspicion for any specific criminal offense.
The Police Authority subsequently submitted a formal request to the Migration Agency last year, arguing that Alcer represented a threat to the democratic order of the country and should be deported, notwithstanding his status as an EU citizen. In its formal response, the Migration Agency dismissed the request, stating that there was no evidence to suggest that Alcer had caused harm to property or individuals, or that he had exposed the public to any serious danger.
The agency concluded that the conditions for expulsion had not been met, noting in its decision: "Against this background, the Migration Agency considers that it is not currently shown that your deportation is particularly warranted on grounds of public policy and public security."
