Swedish Parliamentary Committee Rejects Proposal to Halt Teen Deportations

Parliamentary Committee Votes Down Joint Initiative

A joint proposal by Sweden's Green Party (Miljöpartiet) and the Left Party (Vänsterpartiet) to halt teen deportations was rejected by the Swedish Parliament's Social Insurance Committee on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. The initiative sought to expand family immigration eligibility for children of permanent residents to 21 years of age, an increase from the current limit of 18. It also aimed to reintroduce the humanitarian protection ground of 'particularly distressing circumstances' (särskilt ömmande omständigheter) into migration law.

The proposal garnered support from the Centre Party but was ultimately voted down by the governing coalition parties, which include the Moderates, Sweden Democrats, Christian Democrats, and the Liberals. The leading opposition party, the Social Democrats (Socialdemokraterna), also voted against the joint initiative.

Social Democrats' Alternative Proposal Fails

In a separate development, the Social Democrats put forward their own proposal, urging the government to instruct the Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) to implement an immediate freeze on all cases involving teenage deportations. This alternative proposal was also rejected by the committee.

Ida Karkiainen (S), the Social Democrats' migration policy spokesperson, had previously called for an 'immediate freeze on these deportations until the legal situation is clarified and the government has presented how they intend to resolve this issue.' However, the party chose not to support the Green and Left parties' initiative, leading to criticism from Tony Haddou (V), the Left Party's migration policy spokesman, who accused the Social Democrats and Liberals of having 'lied to the Swedish people' regarding their stance on stopping deportations.

Context and Government Stance

The debate surrounding teen deportations stems from the Aliens Act of 2021, which removed provisions for exceptions in 'particularly painful cases' and made adult children of permanent residents ineligible for dependent residency permits after turning 18. This has led to situations where young people, often well-integrated into Swedish society, face deportation upon reaching adulthood.

Public pressure has been mounting on the government to address these cases. However, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated on February 11, 2026, that his government has 'no plans for a freeze on teen deportations,' indicating a preference for addressing the issue through a 'safety valve' clause proposed in a recent inquiry on family reunification rules. Viktor Wärnick (Moderate), chairman of the Social Insurance Committee, dismissed the joint proposal as a 'political game,' stating that the government is currently reviewing legislation to find a solution.

Ongoing Review and Disappointment

The government maintains that it is reviewing the legislation to find a solution to the issue. Despite this, the rejection of both proposals has drawn disappointment from proponents of stricter protections for young people. Niels Paarup-Petersen of the Centre Party described the system as 'absurd,' highlighting the perceived injustice of punishing individuals for being permanently welcomed into the country.