Sweden's Migrant Reporting Mandate
Sweden passes law requiring public workers to report unauthorized migrants despite human rights concerns.
Sweden's parliament has passed a law requiring public sector workers to report migrants who do not have the right to live in the country. AP News reports the law passed the Riksdag by just 176 votes to 173 — the narrowest possible margin. Workers at tax offices, employment agencies, social insurance bodies, and prison services must now tell police when they believe someone lacks valid documents to stay in Sweden.
Critics have called it the "Snitch Law." Researchers from multiple Swedish universities say it contradicts basic human rights and encourages racial profiling. The Swedish government argues the measure is needed to dismantle what it calls a "shadow society" of people living in the country illegally.
What the Law Requires Public Workers to Do
The law covers a wide range of public employees. Workers at tax authorities, employment agencies, social insurance agencies, and prison and probation services must report anyone they suspect lacks the paperwork to legally reside in Sweden. The law is a core part of the Tidö Agreement — the governing pact between center-right parties and the far-right Sweden Democrats.
Migration Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard has defended the mandate. "A 'no' to asylum must mean a 'no,'" she said. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has called it a "necessary evil" to stop undocumented migrants from being exploited in the underground economy.
Up to 100,000 People Could Face Deportation Risk
Sweden estimates between 70,000 and 100,000 people currently live in the country without papers. An estimated 20,000 children are enrolled in Swedish schools and could be affected by the reporting duty. The law creates a legal clash with a 2013 reform that gave undocumented children the right to attend school and adults the right to emergency medical care.
The government has set aside 250 million Swedish kronor — about $24 million USD — to train public workers on how to identify and report undocumented status. Stockholm and Gothenburg have both signaled their staff may refuse to comply, setting up a direct clash between local and national government.
Healthcare Workers and Teachers Refuse to Become Informants
Over 4,000 healthcare workers and 151 trade unions signed petitions against the law before it passed. Sineva Ribeiro, president of the Swedish Association of Health Professionals, said: "This is a direct attack on our professional ethics. We are here to provide care, not to be the police's extended arm." Unions warn the law could trigger a wave of resignations from teachers and nurses.
Researchers from Lund and Uppsala Universities argue the law violates the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. They warn that children will be pulled from schools if principals must report them. Doctors may also face a choice between following the law and following the Hippocratic Oath — the medical code that puts patient care first.
Experts Warn of Public Health and Human Rights Fallout
Critics argue the law will push migrants deeper into hiding. Undocumented people may avoid hospitals even when they have contagious diseases like tuberculosis or HIV. That could create risks for the wider population. Migrants may also stop reporting domestic abuse or accessing social services out of fear of being turned over to police.
A 2024 poll by Novus found that 54% of Swedes opposed a reporting duty for healthcare workers, while 41% supported it. The Social Democrats and the Green Party have vowed to repeal the law if they return to power. Legal challenges are already being prepared for the European Court of Human Rights.
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