Sweden has passed a new law allowing authorities to revoke residence permits from immigrants for conduct that does not necessarily constitute a criminal offence, Reuters reports.
The legislation, approved by parliament on 16 June, allows the Swedish Migration Agency to review permits based on factors such as unpaid debts, tax issues, undeclared work, criminality or links to extremist organisations. The rules also apply to permits that have already been granted.
For immigrants from Southeast Asia living in Sweden, the law means that administrative violations could potentially carry immigration consequences. Workers who fail to declare income correctly, accumulate significant debts or breach employment regulations may face increased scrutiny.
Migration Minister Johan Forssell said the measure is intended to ensure that people who do not follow Swedish rules cannot assume they will be allowed to stay in the country.
The law has drawn criticism from rights groups, including Civil Rights Defenders, which argues that the legislation creates uncertainty because it does not clearly define all forms of behaviour that could trigger a permit review.
