In Sweden, a proposal being considered by a government-appointed committee has sparked alarm among doctors, social workers, and librarians. The proposal would require public sector workers to report undocumented individuals to authorities. Critics have dubbed it the “snitch law.”
This idea was part of a 2022 agreement among four right-wing parties, which allowed the formation of a coalition government involving three center-right parties, supported by the far-right, anti-immigration Sweden Democrats (SD).
Nearly two years after the Sweden Democrats, known for their strict stance on immigration, became the second-largest party in Sweden, efforts are underway to turn this proposal into law. The committee has been tasked with drafting the law and is expected to present its findings by the end of November.
Although still in the early stages, the proposal has already faced significant opposition. Up to a million public sector workers, including dentists and teachers, could be required to report undocumented patients, students, and others. Rights activists and professional associations have expressed concerns about the potential consequences.
“This proposal is utterly inhumane,” said Michele LeVoy, from the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants. She warned that it could discourage people from sending their children to school, seeking healthcare, or reporting crimes.
LeVoy emphasized that such measures could create fear, deterring people from accessing essential services like education, healthcare, or even visiting a library, as they might fear being reported instead of helped.
Professional associations argue that the proposal could undermine the trust they have built with the public and may lead to increased racism and stigmatization.
LeVoy also noted that this proposal is part of a broader trend in Europe to criminalize solidarity with undocumented people. She cited similar measures being considered in Finland and the long-standing reporting obligations in Germany. In the UK, policies introduced by Theresa May in 2012, known as the “hostile environment,” aimed to limit access to essential services for those who couldn’t prove their legal status, often leading to legal residents being wrongly classified as immigration offenders.
If Sweden’s proposal becomes law, it could face similar issues. LeVoy warned that such obligations to report undocumented individuals have consistently resulted in more discrimination, suffering, and fear.
Jacob Lind, a postdoctoral researcher in international migration at Malmö University, believes the proposal is unlikely to reduce the number of undocumented people in Sweden. “Many won’t leave; they’ll just end up in worse conditions,” he said, adding that it could make these individuals even more vulnerable and exploited.
The proposal has united a broad opposition, with over 150 Swedish regions, municipalities, trade unions, and civil society groups expressing their disapproval as of December 2023. “There’s a unique alliance forming around this issue,” said Lind.
One of the groups opposing the proposal is the Swedish Medical Association (SMA). “I became a doctor to help people, not to monitor and report them,” said Sofia Rydgren Stale, the SMA chair. The association argues that such reporting requirements would conflict with professional ethics, which prioritize providing care and avoiding discrimination. “We believe people will be too afraid to seek care if they risk being reported,” Rydgren Stale added.
The Swedish government has stated that the committee is also considering whether this duty to report would conflict with professional values, particularly in healthcare, to ensure that the regulation is legally sound and does not have unreasonable consequences for individuals.