2026-06-172025/26:SfU34 · p.1SfUMigration & social insurance
Legal security etc.
Legal safeguards in immigration detention
What's at stake: Detention is a severe deprivation of liberty imposed on people who are not suspected of any crime, and the question concerns how carefully proportionality is assessed before someone is detained. The outcome affects the legal safeguards and dignity of the people, including vulnerable groups, who risk being held in detention.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
Parliament decides whether the government should be given a formal call to immediately take further action to strengthen legal safeguards and proportionality assessments in detention operations, or whether the measures already taken in response to the National Audit Office's report are sufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motion on legal safeguards in detention operations. The reason is that the committee agrees with the government that several measures have already been taken in line with the National Audit Office's recommendations, including on inter-agency cooperation and a joint system for prioritising detention places, and expects the government to continue this follow-up work without a specific formal statement being necessary.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (V, MP)
The reservation (V, MP) considers that the government's account does not sufficiently address the serious shortcomings identified by the National Audit Office or how they will be remedied. The reasoning is that the Migration Agency and the Police Authority are deficient in applying the principle of proportionality, that detention should be used only as a last resort with less intrusive alternatives such as supervision used first, and that there is a lack of strategic prioritisation and systematic follow-up of how detention places are used.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 1 by V, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/21/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 105/0/0/1 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/18/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 24/0/0/0 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | Yes | Yes 16/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 19/0/0/0 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| M | Yes | Yes 66/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | Yes | Yes 70/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects motion 2025/26:3983 by Annika Hirvonen et al. (MP) demands 1 and 2.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2025/26:3983 av Annika Hirvonen m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 1 och 2.
Riksdag decision: The National Audit Office has examined whether the Migration Agency's and the Police Authority's work with detention activities is effective. Their overall conclusion is that the detention activities do not function effectively. The government has in a written statement reported on its assessment of the observations that the National Audit Office has made and the recommendations directed at the government in the report Detention in the migration process – an expensive tool without clear governance. In the same written statement, the government also reports what measures it has taken and intends to take due to the National Audit Office's recommendations. Parliament filed the government's written statement with the case documents, that is, closed the matter.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to strengthen legal certainty in detention by strictly applying the proportionality principle and using less restrictive alternatives to a greater extent. (V, MP) — Reservation 1
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan requires that legal certainty be maintained through legal aid, citizen oversight and independent review, and sets high demands on functioning accountability from authorities with coercive power.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that legal certainty be maintained through legal aid, citizen oversight and independent review, and sets high demands on functioning accountability from authorities with coercive power. The counter-proposal's demand that the proportionality principle be applied, that deprivation of liberty be used as a last resort, and that use be followed up systematically follows from this. The election manifesto furthermore points out the harshness of migration policy toward an already vulnerable group.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att rättssäkerheten upprätthålls genom rättshjälp, medborgerlig insyn och oberoende granskning, och ställer höga krav på fungerande ansvarsutkrävande hos myndigheter med tvångsmakt. Motförslagets krav på att proportionalitetsprincipen tillämpas, att frihetsberövande används som sista utväg och att användningen följs upp systematiskt följer av detta. Valmanifestet pekar dessutom ut migrationspolitikens hårdhet mot en redan utsatt grupp.
- legal certainty and oversightdecisive»Rättssäkerheten behöver upprätthållas genom rättshjälp, medborgerlig« (party programme ↗)“Legal certainty needs to be maintained through legal aid, citizen”
- accountability of authorities»höga krav på fungerande ansvarsutkrävande vid lagbrott.« (party programme ↗)“high demands on functioning accountability for violations of law.”
- against inhumane migration policy»Vänsterpartiet anser att den inhumana flyktingpolitik som råder, med tillfälliga och villkorade uppehållstillstånd, är en form av psykologiskt våld mot en redan utsatt grupp.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Left Party believes that the inhumane migration policy that prevails, with temporary and conditional residence permits, is a form of psychological violence against an already vulnerable group.”
- presumption of innocence»anses oskyldiga tills motsatsen är bevisad är grundläggande i det.« (party programme ↗)“are considered innocent until proven guilty is fundamental in this.”
The plan demands that principles of the rule of law be upheld and that authority interventions are based on evidence, effectiveness and legal certainty.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan demands that principles of the rule of law be upheld and that authority interventions are based on evidence, effectiveness and legal certainty. Demands that the proportionality principle be applied, that less intrusive alternatives be tested first and that the use of detention places be prioritised and followed up systematically align with this. The plan's demand for order and state governance in reception also speaks for strategic governance of the places.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att rättsstatens principer upprätthålls och att myndigheternas ingripanden bygger på evidens, effektivitet och rättssäkerhet. Krav på att proportionalitetsprincipen tillämpas, att mindre ingripande alternativ prövas i första hand och att användningen av förvarsplatser prioriteras och följs upp systematiskt ligger i linje med detta. Planens krav på ordning och statlig styrning i mottagandet talar också för strategisk styrning av platserna.
- rule-of-law principlesdecisive»Slå vakt om rättsstatens principer.« (party programme ↗)“Guard the principles of the rule of law.”
- evidence and legal certainty»Kriminalpolitik byggd på evidens, effektivitet och rättssäkerhet.« (party programme ↗)“Criminal policy built on evidence, effectiveness and legal certainty.”
- civil freedoms and rights»Skydd för medborgerliga fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“Protection of civil freedoms and rights.”
- order and state governance»Ordning och reda i flyktingmottagandet, genom ökad statlig kontroll« (party programme ↗)“Order and discipline in refugee reception, through increased state control”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan stands for a human and rights-secure migration policy and for the principle that less intrusive measures shall be chosen first, expressed among other things in probation sanctions being a first choice for minor offences.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan stands for a human and rights-secure migration policy and for the principle that less intrusive measures shall be chosen first, expressed among other things in probation sanctions being a first choice for minor offences. It also requires that legal certainty is guaranteed throughout the legal system and that new legislation is tested against fundamental freedoms and rights. The counter-proposal's requirements for proportionality, deprivation of liberty as a last resort and systematic monitoring follow from this. The requirement is supported.
Original (Swedish)
Planen står för en human och rättssäker migrationspolitik och för principen att mindre ingripande åtgärder ska väljas i första hand, uttryckt bland annat i att frivårdspåföljder ska vara förstahandsval vid lindrigare brott. Den kräver också att rättssäkerheten garanteras i hela rättssystemet och att ny lagstiftning prövas mot grundläggande fri- och rättigheter. Motförslagets krav på proportionalitet, frihetsberövande som sista utväg och systematisk uppföljning följer av detta. Kravet stöds.
- human and rights-secure migrationdecisive»Vi gröna står för en human och rättssäker migrationspolitik.« (party programme ↗)“We Greens stand for a human and rights-secure migration policy.”
- least intrusive action first»Frivårdspåföljder ska användas som förstahandsval vid lindrigare brott.« (party programme ↗)“Probation sanctions shall be used as a first choice for minor offences.”
- legal certainty testing»prövas noggrant utifrån rättssäkerhet och grundläggande fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“be carefully examined on the basis of legal certainty and fundamental freedoms and rights.”
- legal certainty in the entire legal system»Alla ska vara lika inför lagen och rättssäkerheten måste garanteras i« (party programme ↗)“Everyone shall be equal before the law and legal certainty must be guaranteed in”
The plan requires that the state's coercive power is controlled and that intervention is proportionate to its purpose, and it defends individual rights against the state.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that the state's coercive power is controlled and that intervention is proportionate to its purpose, and it defends individual rights against the state. That deprivation of liberty shall be a last resort and that public authorities' application of the proportionality principle is monitored systematically follows directly from that. The plan also stands for a humane migration policy. Therefore the counter-proposal's requirements are supported.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att statens tvångsmakt är kontrollerad och att ingreppet står i proportion till syftet, och den försvarar individens rättigheter gentemot staten. Att frihetsberövande ska vara sista utvägen och att myndigheternas tillämpning av proportionalitetsprincipen följs upp systematiskt följer direkt av det. Planen står också för en human migrationspolitik. Därför stöds motförslagets krav.
- the proportionality principledecisive»Det måste finnas en proportionalitet mellan lagstiftningens inskränkning av medborgarnas integritet och lagarnas syfte.« (party programme ↗)“There must be proportionality between legislation's restriction of citizens' integrity and the laws' purpose.”
- individual rights against the state»Rättsstaten och individens rättigheter gentemot staten måste försvaras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The rule of law and individual rights against the state must be defended.”
- control of state coercive power»Staten är den enda enheten i samhället som får utöva tvång och våld.« (party programme ↗)“The state is the only entity in society allowed to exercise coercion and violence.”
- humane migration policy»Centerpartiet strävar efter öppna gränser, fri rörlighet samt en generös och human flykting- och invandringspolitik.« (party programme ↗)“The Center Party strives for open borders, free movement and a generous and humane refugee and immigration policy.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto requires that more people awaiting deportation and return hold in detention and that those without asylum grounds leave the country.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto requires that more people awaiting deportation and return hold in detention and that those without asylum grounds leave the country. The counter-proposal's demand that deprivation of liberty shall be a last resort with less invasive alternatives first pulls in the opposite direction. The plan's requirement for legal certainty and strong oversight remain, but do not bear that prioritization.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver att fler som väntar på utvisning och avvisning hålls i förvar och att den som saknar asylskäl lämnar landet. Motförslagets krav på att frihetsberövande ska vara sista utväg med mindre ingripande alternativ i första hand drar åt motsatt håll. Planens krav på rättssäkerhet och stark tillsyn kvarstår, men bär inte den prioriteringen.
- more in detentiondecisive»Fler som väntar på både utvisning och avvisning ska hållas i förvar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“More awaiting both deportation and return shall be held in detention.”
- enforced return without grounds»Asylrätten ska värnas där den med asylskäl ska stanna och den utan skäl lämnar landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Asylum rights shall be safeguarded where those with asylum grounds stay and those without grounds leave the country.”
- strengthened oversight of authorities»Tillsynen över myndigheternas maktutövning mot enskilda behöver utvecklas genom starka tillsynsmyndigheter för bland annat polis, kriminalvård och socialtjänst.« (party programme ↗)“Oversight of government authorities' exercise of power over individuals needs to be developed through strong oversight bodies including for police, corrections, and social services.”
- strengthened legal certainty»Rättssäkerheten och skyddet för de medborgerliga fri- och rättigheterna behöver förstärkas.« (party programme ↗)“Legal certainty and protection of civil liberties and rights need to be strengthened.”
The plan does not address remand places, but it requires that due process be guaranteed the individual in the migration process and counts personal freedom and privacy among the rights the constitution should protect.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address remand places, but it requires that due process be guaranteed the individual in the migration process and counts personal freedom and privacy among the rights the constitution should protect. The counter-proposal's demands that the proportionality principle be applied and that deprivation of liberty be used as a last resort follow from this. The plan's view of coercion as something to be used restrictively points in the same direction.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte förvarsplatser, men den kräver att rättssäkerhet garanteras den enskilde i migrationsprocessen och räknar personlig frihet och integritet till de rättigheter grundlagen ska skydda. Motförslagets krav på att proportionalitetsprincipen tillämpas och att frihetsberövande används som sista utväg följer av detta. Planens syn på tvång som något som ska användas restriktivt pekar åt samma håll.
- due process in the asylum processdecisive»För den som söker asyl i Sverige måste hela processen vara utformad så att rättssäkerhet garanteras den enskilde.« (party programme ↗)“For those seeking asylum in Sweden, the entire process must be designed so that due process is guaranteed the individual.”
- protection of personal freedom»Sådana rättigheter är framför allt rätten till liv, personlig frihet och integritet« (party programme ↗)“Such rights are above all the right to life, personal freedom and privacy”
- restrictive use of coercion»Tvångsvård ska användas restriktivt och endast där särskilda skäl finns.« (party programme ↗)“Compulsory care shall be used restrictively and only where special grounds exist.”
- systematic monitoring»Utvärdering, kostnadsuppföljning och kvalitetskontroll är därför viktiga politiska uppgifter.« (party programme ↗)“Evaluation, cost tracking and quality control are therefore important political tasks.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The counter-proposal's substantive demand is that deprivation of liberty should be used as a last resort with less intrusive alternatives first.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal's substantive demand is that deprivation of liberty should be used as a last resort with less intrusive alternatives first. The plan's overarching commitment points in the opposite direction: those who received a rejection should as soon as possible leave the country, the number of deportations should increase sharply and migration policy should be strict. The plan therefore does not support restricting the use of detention.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslagets sakliga krav är att frihetsberövande ska användas som sista utväg med mindre ingripande alternativ i första hand. Planens bärande åtagande pekar åt motsatt håll: den som fått ett nej ska så fort som möjligt lämna landet, antalet utvisningar ska kraftigt öka och migrationspolitiken ska vara stram. Planen ger därmed inte stöd åt att begränsa användningen av förvar.
- snabbt återvändandedecisive»Av största vikt är att den som fått ett nej på asylansökan så fort som möjligt lämnar landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Of paramount importance is that those who received a rejection on their asylum application as soon as possible leave the country.”
- fler verkställda utvisningar»Kraftigt öka antalet utvisningar genom fler EU-gemensamma återtagandeavtal« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sharply increase the number of deportations through more EU joint readmission agreements”
- stram migrationspolitik»En målstyrd, stram och hållbar migrationspolitik är en förutsättning för att integrationen ska fungera.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A goal-oriented, strict and sustainable migration policy is a precondition for integration to function.”
- kontroll över gränserna»Öppenhet är inte samma sak som gränslöshet.« (party programme ↗)“Openness is not the same as boundlessness.”
flags: citat_migrerat
The counter-proposal's core is that deprivation of liberty shall be a last resort and that less intrusive alternatives shall be used in the first place.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal's core is that deprivation of liberty shall be a last resort and that less intrusive alternatives shall be used in the first place. The election manifesto demands instead lowered thresholds for detention and deportation as well as expanded access to detention and prison places. The requirement for systematic follow-up does align with the plan's results requirement, but the main demand means the plan rejects the counter-proposal.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslagets kärna är att frihetsberövande ska vara sista utväg och att mindre ingripande alternativ ska användas i första hand. Valmanifestet kräver tvärtom sänkta trösklar för att ta i förvar och utvisa samt utökad tillgång på förvars- och anstaltsplatser. Kravet på systematisk uppföljning ligger visserligen i linje med planens resultatkrav, men huvudkravet gör att planen avvisar motförslaget.
- lowered thresholds for detentiondecisive»Trösklarna för att ta i förvar och utvisa personer samt verkställa utvisningar behöver också sänkas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The thresholds for detaining and deporting persons and executing deportations need to be lowered.”
- expanded detention capacity»Utöka tillgången på anstaltsplatser i och utanför Sverige« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Expand access to prison places in and outside Sweden”
- more inspections and deportations»Bekämpa skuggsamhället och illegal migration med fler kontroller och fler utvisningar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Combat the shadow society and illegal migration with more inspections and more deportations”
- follow-up of operations»Begära tydliga resultat för varje offentlig satsning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Demand clear results for every public investment”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:SfU34)
- Committee report full text (HD01SfU34)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:3968 — med anledning av skr. 2025/26:137 Riksrevisionens rapport om förvar i migrationsprocessen av Ida Karkiainen m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:3976 — med anledning av skr. 2025/26:137 Riksrevisionens rapport om förvar i migrationsprocessen av Niels Paarup-Petersen m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2025/26:3983 — med anledning av skr. 2025/26:137 Riksrevisionens rapport om förvar i migrationsprocessen av Annika Hirvonen m.fl. (MP)
- Regeringens skrivelse 2025/26:137 — Riksrevisionens rapport om förvar i migrationsprocessen
Source: The Swedish Parliament