Taking back control of migration

- Tackling social unrest and crime.

Sweden is facing one of the greatest challenges of our time - regaining control over migration, restoring integration and protecting welfare. For decades, migration has been greater than society has been able to handle. It is not the people who are the problem, but the policies that have lacked clear requirements, planning and responsibility.

Swedish migration policy is caught in a destructive tug-of-war between two extremes. On one side is the left, which wants almost completely open borders. On the other side are the Sweden Democrats, who like to talk about stopping immigration altogether, but once they gained influence, immigration increased anyway - and the problems persisted. Meanwhile, it was the Moderate-led government that pushed mass immigration to its limits in 2015. 2015 policies resulted in the highest per capita migration in the EU. The fact that so many people came to Sweden in such a short time has been overwhelming for the Swedish social system. The result was deeper segregation and increased insecurity for all. Welfare has been pushed to the limit.

The question is whether both the left and the right are happy to see the problems persist, as both seem to derive their votes from the failed migration policy.

The result of these poles is a polarised society where people are forced to choose sides, instead of seeking solutions. We have ended up in a climate where people are for or against immigration, but no-one is discussing how more immigrants can get off benefits and become part of society. Sweden doesn't need more election promises, we need policies that can deal with reality.

Ambition Sverige therefore wants to replace decades of naivety with order, responsibility and faith in the future. That is why Ambition Sverige's immigration policy is simple: anyone who works, supports themselves and respects Swedish law, democracy, equality, fundamental rights and freedoms and religious freedom should be able to build a good life in Sweden. This is the definition of integration.

At the same time, Ambition Sverige proposes a migration policy that recovery period - a halt to further immigration, except for exceptional cases of family immigration and labour immigration where self-sufficiency is guaranteed. This regime should apply for as long as necessary to ensure the sustainability of Sweden's welfare system and until Sweden has tackled the escalation of crime. During that period, Sweden should focus on creating security, work and participation for those who already live here. Work and respect for Swedish law must be the basis for everyone's path to society and citizenship.

At the same time, we need to retain the possibility of skilled labour immigration. Those who have a job and contribute to society should not be denied entry.

Forced mixing is not integration

Ambition Sverige believes that it is up to the individual whether they want to learn Swedish. Some occupational categories, such as work in elderly care, require a good knowledge of the Swedish language, while in other occupations it is not as important. Language skills do not determine how well integrated an individual is. What is important, however, is respect for the basic Swedish norms that hold a society together: law, freedom and responsibility.

Nor is it necessary to live in a particular place with Swedes as neighbours. Rather, it is quite natural for people who come from other cultures to choose to live with their compatriots, at least in the early days. We don't believe in forced mixing, but in change happening naturally, through work, education and participation.

Restore law and order - reduce welfare dependency

Independent analyses show that many newcomers remain dependent on benefits for decades and that a large proportion never achieve self-sufficiency. This puts a strain on tax-funded systems and weakens overall welfare.

Municipalities with high levels of immigration have faced rising costs for social services, housing, education and healthcare, often without sufficient resources.

Segregation has increased sharply over time, with the emergence of parallel communities where integration has failed. In many of these neighbourhoods, social unrest and crime have emerged.

Unfortunately, people with a foreign background are also over-represented in crime statistics, especially in serious violent crime, robbery and sexual offences. Gang crime, shootings and explosions have escalated, often linked to young men from migrant families.

Sweden does not need to close itself off from the world, but we do need to stop immigration for the time necessary to restore law and order, get people into work and take responsibility both for those who have come here and for Sweden as a country.

Welfare systems rely on more people working

A large number of economic migrants have come to Sweden to earn a living, and as a result, more and more of our public money is being spent on benefits rather than on core services such as healthcare, elderly care and education.
Without people working, paying taxes and helping to build the country, no welfare system can survive, and that is precisely what we are seeing today.

The benefit system must therefore be at subsistence level and designed to motivate work, not inaction. Work should always be rewarded.

Anyone who supports themselves for five years, obeys the law and does not commit crimes should be able to become a Swedish citizen. This applies to those who are currently in the country and are seeking a life and citizenship in Sweden.

Anyone who commits crimes that harm other people, property or the safety of society should lose the right to stay. Sweden should be open to people who want to contribute, but not to those who reject our laws and norms.

Legally secure revocation of citizenship in cases of false grounds and serious offences

Swedish citizenship is a trust and a bond to the country. It should be given to those who show loyalty to Sweden and respect our laws and values.

If a nationality is granted on false grounds, such as false identity or falsified documents, the decision can be annulled (nullity). This means that the citizenship never legally existed, and that the person can be expelled with a lifetime re-entry ban.

For those with dual citizenship, there must be the possibility of revoking citizenship after conviction for terrorism, espionage, war crimes, organised crime or violent extremism. No one who actively attacks Sweden or undermines democracy should be allowed to retain Swedish citizenship.

Swedish citizenship should be something you deserve and something you wear with respect for the country. Citizenship and residence permits shall be revoked in the event of grova offences.

Border control and return - security starts at the border

A functioning border is a prerequisite for both security and the rule of law.
Sweden must regain full control of its borders and deportation chains.
For decades, lack of control has meant that people without identity documents, with false or deportation orders have been able to stay in the country for years.
It undermines the authority of the law and public confidence.

Ambition Sverige wants to introduce strong borders with legal certainty.
No one should be allowed to enter Sweden without a valid identity document or verified background.
Border police and customs will be expanded, and a national return centre will be established to ensure swift and legally secure returns for those without the right to stay.

Sweden will also sign binding readmission agreements with countries with high refugee flows, to ensure that people without protection reasons can return.
Those who are not political refugees or have genuine protection needs should not be granted asylum in Sweden.

This reform will be prepared and implemented during the recovery period as Sweden rebuilds its migration regime and creates the conditions for legally secure, humane and controlled immigration in the future.

Security starts at the border, but responsibility continues beyond it.

Sweden must become a secular state - for real

Many believe that Sweden is already a secular state. But this is not true.

Freedom of religion is enshrined in the Constitution, but secularism, the principle that law is always above religion, is not. That is a crucial difference.

Religious freedom protects the individual. Secularism protects the rule of law.

Without it, the line between faith and law becomes blurred, jeopardising both human rights and equality. We are already seeing the consequences: parallel societies, oppression of honour and religious leaders preaching against Swedish law. When authorities hesitate to intervene ”for the sake of religion”, the rule of law is weakened and with it, people's freedom.
No faith, no church, no mosque and no tradition should ever be above the law.

France has already realised what Sweden is still hesitating about.
Their constitution clearly states: ”The Republic is secular.”

It means that the state is neutral, the law applies equally to all, and religion must never dominate politics. This is the basis for a strong and resilient society.

In Sweden we hide behind the word religious freedom without establishing the principle that makes freedom possible: that the law always comes first. The result is that religious norms are allowed to influence both politics and the legal system, something that would have been unthinkable in France.

Cooperation between the Socialist Party's subsidiary organisation Faith and Solidarity and Muslim Council of Sweden is a clear example. The agreement promised to work for increased Muslim representation and to pursue religiously motivated demands such as Muslim holidays and imam training. This is an example of how religious interests have gained influence over Swedish politics. A secular state should be above such things.

Ambition Sverige wants to write into the constitution that Sweden is a secular state, where the law is always above religious injunctions and all people are equal before the law. It is time to safeguard the rule of law, now and for the future. Sweden should be a country where the law always comes first.

Increasing safety in marginalised areas

Sweden has become a target for radical Islamism. The Security Service assesses the threat level from Islamist extremists as still high, with documented cases of radicalisation, acts of terrorism and infiltration into schools, the justice system and associations. This is compounded by a decline in social trust and increased polarisation in society, making both democratic dialogue and long-term social planning more difficult.

The situation has been created by irresponsible political decisions, non-democratic agreements and open borders that now need to be addressed.

Ambition Sverige wants to focus on ensuring the safety and security of residents in Sweden's 180 deprived areas (data according to Statistics Sweden). The state must take back control, offences are prosecuted, persons without the right to or who commit serious offences are deported, and resources are redirected to security, schools, healthcare and functioning municipalities.

In Sweden, Swedish law applies

Anyone staying in Sweden does so on Swedish terms. Anyone who commits a crime has exhausted their right to stay. The main rule should be that convicted persons serve their sentences in their home country through agreements whereby Sweden reimburses the cost, followed by deportation for life (re-entry ban). Endless appeals and years of litigation should be replaced by fast, legally certain and permanent decisions. Extremism, attacks on democracy and attempts to introduce parallel legal systems will not be accepted.

Order in the population register

A national census should be carried out and each person should only be able to have a personal identity number or a coordination number. Those who do not have the right to stay in the country should be deported.

Background checks

Real background checks are introduced: documentary research, biometric cross-checks, security interviews and systematic information sharing with countries of origin and transit. Authorities will know who is coming to and staying in Sweden.

Community grants

Taxpayers' money should not go to organisations that make deportations more difficult or promote parallel legal systems. Full transparency should apply to all tax-funded migration activities.

Koutward language

In the countries of origin, it must be clearly communicated that Sweden is no longer a country where you can live on benefits or hide in the shadow society.

Children, honour and the vulnerable

Honour crimes, forced marriages and parallel systems of norms are met with immediate protection for children and women, tougher sentences and deportation of perpetrators. Marriage laws should apply to everyone living in Sweden.

Ambition Sverige will work for:

One stop further immigration - a recovery period with the exception of exceptional cases of family immigration and labour immigration where self-sufficiency can be guaranteed. This arrangement should apply for as long as necessary to ensure the sustainability of Sweden's welfare system and until Sweden has tackled the escalation of crime.
That anyone who works, supports themselves and respects Swedish law, democracy, equality, fundamental rights and freedoms and religious freedom should be able to build a good life in Sweden.
That kriminal, hate preachers, violent extremists and clan-based networks be expelled from the country.
Non-Swedish citizens should serve their sentences in their home country.
Stopping the shadow society. Introduce sanctions against illegal employers/landlords and downhill exit controls.
Temporary residence permits are subject to regular review where serious criminal offences violate the right to stay.
Placing responsibility for language and integration on the individual. Abolition of home language teaching and SFI, interpreter support for a maximum of one year.
Conducting a national census to ensure that there is one personal/coordination number per person. Nullity in case of fraudulent citizenship.
Taxpayers' money should not go to organisations that make deportations more difficult.
To be clear with countries of origin - Sweden is not a welfare destination.
That honour crimes, forced marriages and parallel systems of norms are met with immediate protection for children and women. Tougher penalties and deportation of perpetrators.
Tackling clan crime through restraining orders, witness protection and deportation.