Johan Forssell, Sweden’s Minister of Migration, told Sweden’s Public Radio Sveriges Radio (SR) that any Syrian migrant in Sweden who had been found to commit a crime should be expelled. Forssell added that it was often difficult to deport people in these circumstances, and that is why the government of Sweden is looking for more cooperation with the interim government in Syria to expedite returns.

Sweden is currently governed by a center-right coalition, which relies on a far-right party (the Sweden Democrats) to get some of its policies through parliament. This has meant its migration policy has steered a course mostly to the right of center and is fairly tough.

According to the English language Sweden Herald, there are currently 128 Syrians who have been convicted of crimes in Sweden who require deportation but remain in the country.

"Several of them have committed very serious crimes. There are also questions about threats to national security," Forssell told Sweden Herald. "By committing crimes in Sweden, these people have also chosen not to be part of Sweden. They should therefore be deported."

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Visit to Syria

The announcement came just days after Forssell travelled with the Minister for International Cooperation, Benjamin Dousa, to Syria to meet interim President Ahmad al-Charaa. Their visit marked the first Swedish government visit to Syria since 2011 when war broke out in the country.

Forssell appeared to judge the visit a success. He told journalists that "we have agreed to cooperate on a number of important priorities for Sweden. The vast majority of migrants who arrived in Sweden [from Syria] are honest and respect the rules, but there are some who have committed crimes. We simply want to expel these people, as they have no place in Sweden."

The Swedish migration minister reportedly underlined to Syria’s interim government that the financial aid that Sweden and many other EU countries are providing to Syria is to help the country get back on its feet, but also to help reduce the number of Syrians living abroad and to help accelerate expulsions.

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Sweden wants a 'return' on its development aid

Forssell reportedly said to journalists: "We are keeping in mind Sweden’s priorities. When we pay development aid, we expect a return on that money and cooperation from the country that receives it. That includes taking their own nationals back, especially those who have committed crimes in Sweden. If that doesn’t happen, there will be no more help for development."

Over and above returning migrants convicted of crimes, Forssell also raised the issue of more Syrians returning to their country with al-Charaa. Syrians in Sweden who want to return to their country have the possibility to access financial help for the journey back and to cover some of their logistical costs.

According to Sweden’s Bureau of Statistics (SCB), between 2014 and 2018, Syrians accounted for the largest single national group of migrants migrating to Sweden.

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Syrian 'technical team' to arrive in Sweden

Forssell said after his meeting in Syria that he could imagine that the Syrian authorities might now send what he described as a "technical team" to Sweden to look at individual cases, reported Sweden Herald. This would include sorting out issues such as identity.

Dousa added that both he and Forssell had been "very clear" in their meeting with the Syrian officials and had made their agenda clear.

However, the Swedish government has not yet released a timeline for when these deportations might take place. The situation in Syria is still fairly unstable, and there is still a problem of protection for various minority groups.

"You always make an individual assessment, are there any obstacles to enforcement?" Forssell told Sweden Herald. "We don’t deport anyone if, for example, they risk torture."

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Syrians in Sweden

According to Statistics Sweden (SCB), in 2024, there were 196,152 individuals who were born in Syria and are now living in Sweden.

Although the number might not seem that large, Sweden's population was only about 10.6 million as of September 2025. Overall, according to Statistics Sweden (SCB), foreign-born residents made up about 20.8 percent of the population at the end of December 2024.

In 2024, those who sought asylum from Syria still accounted for the largest national group of asylum seekers. In total, all asylum seeker applicants that year numbered 9,645 (3,757 women, 5,88 men, 276 unaccompanied minors, 69 girls and 207 boys). About 10 percent of those asylum seekers, or 976, were Syrian, noted SCB.

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Repatriation grants to rise from January 1, 2026

The Swedish Migration Agency has announced that its repatriation grant will be increased on January 1, 2026. From that date, adults can access 350,000 Swedish Kronas (about 35,000 euros). Children would be able to access 25,000 Swedish Kronas per child (about 2,274 euros). A maximum of 500,000 (about 45,483 euros) would be offered to couples, whether they are married or cohabitants. A maximum of 600,000 Swedish Kronas (about 54,580) would be given out per household.

"The aim is to make it easier for those who want to start over in their home country or another country," said the Swedish Migration Agency’s Director General Maria Mindhammar. "This financial support gives people more control over their choice to move and helps to create greater security in their transition."

In 2025, the Migration Agency said they had received 109 applications so far, of which one has actually been granted. In 2024, they received 68 applications, of which four were granted.

With AFP 

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