2025-06-172024/25:SfU22 · p.3SfUMigration & social insurance
Control at the detention facility
The child's perspective in controlled visits at immigration detention
What's at stake: The decision affects children of detained parents and how contact during visits is arranged, weighing the need to prevent prohibited items from being passed on against children's right to physical contact and child-appropriate treatment.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the government's proposal for a new form of controlled visiting room at immigration detention should be supplemented with explicit requirements safeguarding children's need for physical contact with parents and child-adapted treatment, or implemented without such additions.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee views the new controlled visiting-room format as a proportionate part of the expanded control powers at detention facilities and rejects the motions calling for additional requirements on physical contact and child-adapted spaces during visits.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 3 (S, C)
The reservation (S, C) calls for the government to bring forward proposals ensuring that children's need for physical contact with parents and the ability to hand over items during visits are safeguarded, that the child's perspective is explicitly taken into account, and that children can meet parents in child-adapted spaces unless there are exceptional reasons against it.
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 3 by S, C.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have held
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: KDKristdemokraterna
Ja 153–115Ja 137–131
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Abstain 0/0/20/4 | differs | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | No | No 0/93/0/13 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Abstain 0/0/15/3 | differs | confidence: high | derived |
| C | No | No 0/21/0/3 | match | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: medium | explicit |
| M | No | Yes 59/0/0/9 | differs | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 63/0/0/9 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2024/25:3423 by Anders Ygeman et al. (S) motion 1 and 2024/25:3428 by Annika Hirvonen et al. (MP) motions 2, 4 and 5.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:3423 av Anders Ygeman m.fl. (S) yrkande 1 och 2024/25:3428 av Annika Hirvonen m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 2, 4 och 5.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag approved the government's proposal for the Migration Agency to gain expanded possibilities to use coercive and control measures at förvar (detention facilities — special locked accommodations that the Migration Agency can use, for example if there is a risk that a person will remain in Sweden after a decision on deportation). The legislative changes include, among other things, expanded possibilities to conduct body searches, room searches and entry control. A new form of visit is also being introduced, where the visitor and the person in förvar meet with a glass partition between them. The purpose of the law is to improve the possibilities to maintain order and security at förvar. The legislative changes are to take effect on August 1, 2025.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to allow children physical contact with parents during visits in child-friendly rooms at detention facilities. (S, C) — Reservation 3
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 the Convention on the Rights of the Child be realised and that the best interests of the child be seen to in every situation.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that the Convention on the Rights of the Child be realised and that the best interests of the child be seen to in every situation. The counter-proposal's requirement for explicit guarantees for children's need for physical contact with parents and for child-friendly visiting facilities are precisely an application of that principle. The election manifesto moreover establishes that the child perspective must be strengthened, and the plan requires dignified circumstances for asylum seekers.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att barnkonventionen förverkligas och att barnets bästa ses till i varje läge. Motförslagets krav på uttryckliga garantier för barns behov av fysisk kontakt med föräldrar och på barnanpassade besöksutrymmen är precis en tillämpning av den principen. Valmanifestet slår dessutom fast att barnperspektivet måste stärkas, och planen kräver värdiga omständigheter för asylsökande.
- the best interests of the child in every situationdecisive»liga barnkonventionen och principen att i varje läge se till barnets« (party programme ↗)“eal Children's Convention and the principle of always seeing the child's”
- stronger children's rights»Utvecklingen mot starkare rättigheter för barn är en av de progressiva« (party programme ↗)“Development towards stronger rights for children is one of the progressive”
- strengthened child perspective»Barnperspektivet måste stärkas i vårdnadstvister och det ska inte vara möjligt för våldsutövare att behålla gemensam vårdnad.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The child perspective must be strengthened in custody disputes and it shall not be possible for perpetrators of violence to retain joint custody.”
- dignified circumstances»sin rätt till en individuell och rättssäker prövning under värdiga« (party programme ↗)“their right to an individual and legally certain review under dignified”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The party programme wants to see a strong society that protects those in a vulnerable position, and establishes that the right of asylum grounded in humanism and solidarity must be respected even within regulated immigration.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme wants to see a strong society that protects those in a vulnerable position, and establishes that the right of asylum grounded in humanism and solidarity must be respected even within regulated immigration. Explicit guarantees for children's need for physical contact with parents and child-friendly visiting spaces are an application of this to the detention environment. The plan does not specifically address visiting rooms.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet vill se ett starkt samhälle som skyddar den som befinner sig i en utsatt position, och slår fast att asylrätten grundad på humanism och solidaritet ska respekteras även inom en reglerad invandring. Uttryckliga garantier för barns behov av fysisk kontakt med föräldrar och barnanpassade besöksutrymmen är en tillämpning av det på förvarsmiljön. Planen behandlar inte besöksrum särskilt.
- protection for the vulnerabledecisive»Socialdemokratin vill se ett starkt samhälle som skyddar den som befinner sig i en utsatt position från att tryckas ned eller exploateras.« (party programme ↗)“Social democracy wants to see a strong society that protects those in a vulnerable position from being oppressed or exploited.”
- humanism in migration policy»Det måste bygga på principen om reglerad invandring, samtidigt som asylrätten, som grundas på humanism och solidaritet, ska respekteras.« (party programme ↗)“It must be built on the principle of regulated immigration, while the right of asylum, which is grounded in humanism and solidarity, must be respected.”
- children's needs and protection»Kraftfullt bekämpande av våld mot barn och stöd till barn som bevittnar våld.« (party programme ↗)“Forceful combat of violence against children and support for children who witness violence.”
- liberties and rights»Skydd för medborgerliga fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“Protection of civil liberties and rights.”
The election manifesto states that no asylum-seeking children shall be separated from their parents, and the party programme requires that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child becomes Swedish law and that decisions are preceded by child impact analysis.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto states that no asylum-seeking children shall be separated from their parents, and the party programme requires that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child becomes Swedish law and that decisions are preceded by child impact analysis. Explicit guarantees for children's physical contact with parents and child-friendly visiting spaces in detention follow directly from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att inga asylsökande barn ska kunna skiljas från sina föräldrar, och partiprogrammet kräver att barnkonventionen blir svensk lag och att beslut föregås av barnkonsekvensanalys. Uttryckliga garantier för barns fysiska kontakt med föräldrar och barnanpassade besöksutrymmen på förvar följer direkt av dessa åtaganden.
- children shall not be separated from parentsdecisive»att fler familjer ska kunna återförenas i Sverige. Inga asylsökande barn ska kunna skiljas från sina föräldrar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“that more families should be able to reunite in Sweden. No asylum-seeking children shall be separated from their parents.”
- child impact analysis of decisions»FN:s barnkonvention ska bli svensk lag och politiska beslut bör föregås av en barnkonsekvensanalys.« (party programme ↗)“The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child shall become Swedish law and political decisions should be preceded by a child impact analysis.”
- safe childhood as a right»En trygg barndom med goda möjligheter till lek ska vara en rättighet för alla.« (party programme ↗)“A safe childhood with good opportunities for play should be a right for all.”
- restrictive use of detention»Den som får avslag på sin asylansökan ska inte hållas i förvar, utan i första hand få hjälp att frivilligt återvända till sitt hemland.« (party programme ↗)“Those who receive a rejection of their asylum application should not be held in detention, but rather first and foremost be helped to voluntarily return to their homeland.”
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 party programme states that society's actors shall take the individual's perspective and that children's rights and perspective are of paramount importance.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme states that society's actors shall take the individual's perspective and that children's rights and perspective are of paramount importance. The counter-proposal's requirements for child-friendly visiting facilities and guaranteed physical contact with parents follow directly from that. The plan's requirement for proportionality in privacy-restricting control measures points in the same direction.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att samhällets aktörer ska inta individens perspektiv och att barnens rättigheter och perspektiv är av största betydelse. Motförslagets krav på barnanpassade besöksrum och garanterad fysisk kontakt med föräldrar följer direkt av det. Planens krav på proportionalitet vid integritetsinskränkande kontrollåtgärder pekar åt samma håll.
- child perspectivedecisive»Samhällets aktörer ska inta individens perspektiv. Av största betydelse är då barnens rättigheter och perspektiv.« (party programme ↗)“Society's actors shall take the individual's perspective. Of paramount importance are then children's rights and perspective.”
- every child's right»Särskilt viktigt är att värna varje barns rätt att bli respekterad och att bli sedd för den man är.« (party programme ↗)“Particularly important is to protect every child's right to be respected and to be seen for who they are.”
- proportionality requirement»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 purpose of the laws.”
- humane migration policy»Centerpartiet strävar efter öppna gränser, fri rörlighet samt en generös och human flykting- och invandringspolitik.« (party programme ↗)“The Centre Party strives for open borders, free movement and a generous and humane refugee and immigration policy.”
The plan states that special consideration shall be given to children in migration processes and that children shall be able to reunite with their parents, and that children's rights are clarified through the child convention as law.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that special consideration shall be given to children in migration processes and that children shall be able to reunite with their parents, and that children's rights are clarified through the child convention as law. According to the plan, children also have the right to be respected as individuals. The counter-proposal's requirement for child-adapted visiting spaces and explicit child perspective in controlled visits thus follows from the plan's commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att särskild hänsyn ska tas till barn i migrationsprocessen och att barn ska kunna återförenas med sina föräldrar, samt att barns rättigheter tydliggjorts genom barnkonventionen som lag. Barn har enligt planen dessutom rätt att respekteras som individer. Motförslagets krav på barnanpassade besöksutrymmen och uttryckligt barnperspektiv vid kontrollerade besök följer därmed av planens åtaganden.
- special consideration for childrendecisive»hänsyn ska tas till barns egna asylskäl, och ensamkommande barn ska särskilt värnas« (party programme ↗)“special consideration shall be given to children's own asylum grounds, and unaccompanied children shall be especially protected”
- children's right to parents»Familjeåterförening är en viktig del av asylrätten. Barn ska kunna återförenas med sina föräldrar.« (party programme ↗)“Family reunification is an important part of asylum law. Children shall be able to reunite with their parents.”
- child convention as law»Genom att FN:s barnkonvention införlivats i svensk lag tydliggörs« (party programme ↗)“By incorporating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Swedish law, it is clarified”
- children as rights-bearers»Barn och ungdomar har rätt att respekteras som individer och i takt med åldern få ta ett ökande« (party programme ↗)“Children and young people have the right to be respected as individuals and as they grow older receive increasing”
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 establishes that the child perspective shall always be included in migration matters and that the best interests of the child shall come first, which is precisely what the counter-proposal wants to write in as a guarantee when visiting detention.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that the child perspective shall always be included in migration matters and that the best interests of the child shall come first, which is precisely what the counter-proposal wants to write in as a guarantee when visiting detention. According to the plan, children have the right to contact with both their parents, not least daily contact, which supports the requirement for physical contact and child-friendly spaces. The exception for compelling reasons corresponds to the plan's own reservation in migration policy.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att barnperspektivet alltid ska finnas med i migrationsärenden och att barnets bästa ska komma i främsta rummet, vilket är precis vad motförslaget vill skriva in som garanti vid besök på förvar. Barn har enligt planen rätt till kontakt med båda sina föräldrar, inte minst den vardagliga, vilket bär kravet på fysisk kontakt och barnanpassade utrymmen. Undantaget vid synnerliga skäl motsvarar planens egen reservation i migrationspolitiken.
- child perspective in migration mattersdecisive»Barnperspektivet ska alltid finnas med i migrations« (party programme ↗)“The child perspective shall always be included in migration”
- children's right to parental contact»behöver och har rätt till kontakt med båda sina föräldrar.« (party programme ↗)“need and have the right to contact with both their parents.”
- best interests of the child»barnets bästa ska komma i främsta rummet.« (party programme ↗)“the best interests of the child shall come first.”
- avoid family separation»Migrationspolitiken får inte leda till att familjemedlemmar skiljs från varandra.« (party programme ↗)“Migration policy shall not lead to family members being separated from each other.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The counter-proposal wishes to supplement the controlled visiting room with guarantees for children's need for contact with parents and child-friendly spaces.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wishes to supplement the controlled visiting room with guarantees for children's need for contact with parents and child-friendly spaces. The plan accords the family a special position as a security-creating community and points out that children are particularly hard hit in migration's vulnerable situations. The plan however says nothing about visiting arrangements in detention, hence support is derived from general principles and is uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill komplettera det kontrollerade besöksrummet med garantier för barns behov av kontakt med föräldrar och barnanpassade utrymmen. Planen tillmäter familjen en särställning som trygghetsskapande gemenskap och pekar på att barn drabbas särskilt hårt i migrationens utsatta situationer. Planen säger dock inget om förvarens besöksordning, varför stödet härleds ur allmänna principer och är osäkert.
- family gives children securitydecisive»det är i fungerande familjer« (party programme ↗)“it is in functioning families”
- children particularly hard hit»Vi riskerar annars ett växande skuggsamhälle, med social utsatthet, illegalt arbete och brottslighet – där särskilt barn drabbas hårt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We risk otherwise a growing shadow society, with social vulnerability, illegal work and crime – where particularly children are hard hit.”
- protection of children's rights»säkerställa rättigheterna för barn och andra som inte kan« (party programme ↗)“safeguard the rights of children and others who cannot”
flags: citat_migrerat
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 states that the best interest of the child must always be considered and that children have the right to spend time with both parents.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that the best interest of the child must always be considered and that children have the right to spend time with both parents. The counter-proposal's demand for child-friendly visiting spaces and explicit consideration of the child perspective is an application of that commitment, and it leaves room for exceptions on special grounds. The demand thus does not undermine the control of prohibited items that the plan otherwise supports.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att barnets bästa alltid ska beaktas och att barn har rätt till umgänge med båda sina föräldrar. Motförslagets krav på barnanpassade besöksutrymmen och uttrycklig hänsyn till barnperspektivet är en tillämpning av det åtagandet, och det lämnar utrymme för undantag vid synnerliga skäl. Kravet rubbar därmed inte den kontroll av otillåtna föremål som planen i övrigt bejakar.
- child's best interest considereddecisive»Att barnets bästa alltid ska beaktas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The best interest of the child must always be taken into account”
- child's best interest in all cases»Den centrala utgångspunkten för Sverigedemokraternas familjepolitik är att barnens bästa skall beaktas i alla situationer inom familjepolitikens område.« (party programme ↗)“The central starting point for Sweden Democrats' family policy is that children's best interest shall be taken into account in all situations within the family policy area.”
- right to spend time with parents»Barn som inte växer upp i en kärnfamilj skall ha rätt att umgås med båda sina biologiska föräldrar« (party programme ↗)“Children who do not grow up in a nuclear family shall have the right to spend time with both their biological parents”
- legal certainty for children»Öka kvalité och rättssäkerhet i utredningar om barn« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase quality and legal certainty in investigations concerning children”
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.
Share and embed
Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:SfU22)
- Committee report full text (HC01SfU22)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:3423 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:161 Förbättrad ordning och säkerhet vid förvar av Anders Ygeman m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:3427 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:161 Förbättrad ordning och säkerhet vid förvar av Tony Haddou m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:3428 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:161 Förbättrad ordning och säkerhet vid förvar av Annika Hirvonen m.fl. (MP)
- Proposition 2024/25:161 — Förbättrad ordning och säkerhet vid förvar
Source: The Swedish Parliament