Sweden's new 'informant law' obliges authorities to report suspected illegal migrants

In June, Sweden's parliament approved a law that requires six public agencies – the Tax Agency, Social Insurance Agency, Public Employment Service, Prison and Probation Service, Enforcement Authority and the Pension Agency – to inform police when they suspect a person lacks a right to stay in the country. The legislation also obliges officials to provide "sidoinformation" gathered incidentally, such as observations made while handling other matters.

Critics warn the measure could deter undocumented migrants from seeking health care or education. Ursula Berge, head of public policy at the academic union SSR, said, "Det allra sämsta med lagen är det som kallas sidoinformation." Midwives, for example, must now report births to the Tax Agency, which in turn must forward the data to police if the parents are suspected of being undocumented, raising ethical concerns highlighted by Vårdförbundet chairman Sophia Godau. While social services, schools and health care are formally exempt from the reporting duty, the law’s implementation has sparked debate over its impact on vulnerable populations and on public trust in Swedish institutions.