Friday September 13, 2024
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (HOL) — Sweden will offer up to $34,000 to refugees, including Somalis, as part of a new policy to reduce its migrant population and addressing challenges with integration. The financial assistance will be available to refugees who voluntarily return to their home countries, marking a significant shift in Sweden's migration policy.
The new measure, which will take effect in 2026, will provide up to 350,000 Swedish kronor (about $34,000) to refugees who choose to return to their countries of origin. The move is supported by the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats party, which has been advocating for stricter immigration controls.
"We are undergoing a major change in our migration policy," said Johan Forssell, Sweden's Minister for Migration, during a press briefing. The policy is part of the government's broader strategy to curtail immigration.
The financial assistance for returning refugees currently stands at 10,000 kronor per adult, 5,000 kronor per child, and 40,000 kronor per family. This increase aims to make the program more appealing, as it has seen little use in the past, with only one individual accepting the offer last year, according to the Swedish government.
Ludvig Aspling, a member of the Sweden Democrats, said the financial assistance, which has been in place since 1984, has been underutilized due to its low profile. "If more people are aware of the grant, and with the increased amount, we expect more will return," he said. Aspling believes this could encourage several hundred thousand long-term unemployed migrants to return to their home countries. "This could be an incentive for several hundred thousand migrants who rely on government assistance," Aspling said.
However, Kaahin Mohamed Ahmed, a Somali community activist, expressed doubts about the program's effectiveness. Speaking to the BBC, Ahmed argued that the amount offered would not be enough for many Somali refugees to establish a stable life back home.
"For a Somali returning to Somalia, $35,000 won't go very far. Just building a modest four-bedroom house costs at least $60,000, and families still need money for living expenses, education, and healthcare," said Ahmed. He added that if the financial support is sufficient to start a business or build a home, the policy is likely to see widespread success.
Sweden has long struggled to integrate its immigrant population. Migration researcher Joakim Ruist warned that increasing financial assistance for returning migrants could send a message that immigrants are unwelcome, further complicating integration efforts.
Ahmed pointed out that refugees have made significant contributions to Sweden's economy and society. "Eighty percent of the drivers in public transportation, including trains, buses, and taxis, are of refugee origin. One in five doctors and one in four dentists are also from refugee backgrounds," Ahmed said, adding that many refugees work in essential services like healthcare and sanitation.
Sweden's new return incentive follows similar policies in neighbouring countries. Denmark offers more than $15,000 per person, while Norway provides about $1,400, France $2,800, and Germany $2,000 to migrants who voluntarily return to their countries.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who took office in 2022, leads a coalition government that includes the Sweden Democrats. His government has vowed to implement more stringent immigration laws and crack down on crime.
The Sweden Democrats, who secured 20.5% of the vote in the 2022 elections, have become Sweden's second-largest political party, pushing for more stringent immigration policies.
Since the 1970s, Sweden has been known for its humanitarian policies and has taken in large numbers of refugees from conflict zones such as Somalia, Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq. In 2015, at the height of Europe's migration crisis, Sweden accepted 160,000 asylum seekers, more than any other European Union country at the time.
However, the influx of refugees has put pressure on Sweden's welfare system and widened economic inequality, especially as unemployment rates among immigrants have remained high. The 2015 crisis marked a turning point in Sweden's immigration policy, with the then-ruling Social Democratic Party acknowledging that the country could no longer maintain its open-door approach.
In recent years, both left- and right-wing governments have enacted measures to control immigration, including introducing temporary residence permits, tightening family reunification rules, and raising income requirements for work visas for non-EU citizens.
