Sweden's Green Party has formally tabled a motion in parliament calling for an immediate and permanent cessation of teen deportations. The party argues that the individuals affected by these policies do not have the luxury of waiting for the current, ongoing government formation talks to reach a resolution.
In the motion, which was submitted to the parliament on Monday, the party outlined four distinct measures. These proposals aim to halt deportations, create pathways for those already deported to return to Sweden, and adjust tuition rules to make study permits more affordable for young people. Annika Hirvonen, the Green Party’s group leader in parliament, explained the urgency to the Aftonbladet newspaper, stating, "We don't know how long it is going to take to form a government, but the young people don't have any more time to wait."
Hirvonen acknowledged that the composition of the eventual government remains uncertain. However, she noted that a parliamentary majority has expressed a desire to stop these deportations in reality, which prompted the party to table the proposal now. The motion is classified as an "independent" or fristående motion, a mechanism available to MPs in the Swedish parliament every autumn between the opening of the session and the budget submission deadline, which falls on November 27th this year.
Before the motion can be submitted to the full parliament, it must be debated and amended within the Social Insurance Committee, where the four former opposition parties currently hold a majority of seats. Hirvonen indicated that she has already secured a commitment from the Centre Party and the Left Party to support the motion, though it remains to be seen if the Social Democrats will also provide their support.
The party's proposal extends beyond a simple vote to bar deportations. It also calls for the government to reinstate the "particularly distressing circumstances" safety clause, amend the Aliens Act to allow previously deported young adults to return, and adjust university funding rules so that young people raised in Sweden gain the same right to free higher education as Swedish citizens.
Migration Minister Johan Forssell criticized the motion, arguing that it goes beyond what is necessary to end teen deportations and appears designed to pressure the Social Democrats. "Since the Social Democrats voted to remove the provision allowing for 'particularly distressing circumstances', this should probably instead be seen as an intervention in their negotiations," he stated in a text message. Forssell further noted that the Tidö government’s own solution—which allows young people to receive permits as dependents of their parents until age 21—is set to take effect this Thursday, October 1st, and will be in place long before the Green Party’s motion can be considered by parliament.
