Sweden in Focus

Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ This week we talk about whether the recent Swedish media pushback against teen deportations is affecting how the government is approaching immigration in the last few months before the election.We also discuss heavy criticism of Sweden’s planned new citizenship law by a legal oversight body.For Membership+ subscribers we explain how Swedish birthday traditions work.Finally we ask what the government’s plan to restrict benefits for immigrants means for newcomers to the country.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange.Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Teen deportationsThree years after The Local, Sweden wakes up to teen deportationsSwedish citizenshipOPINION: 'Sweden's parliament should add transitional rules to the citizenship law'Sweden's Council on Legislation criticises retroactive citizenship rulesSwedish traditionsHow to survive a children's birthday party in SwedenImmigrationWhat does Sweden's plan to restrict benefits for newcomers mean for work permit holders?

This week we talk about whether the recent Swedish media pushback against teen deportations is affecting how the government is approaching immigration in the last few months before the election.We also discuss heavy criticism of Sweden’s planned new citizenship law by a legal oversight body.For Membership+ subscribers we explain how Swedish birthday traditions work.Finally we ask what the government’s plan to restrict benefits for immigrants means for newcomers to the country.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Teen deportationsThree years after The Local, Sweden wakes up to teen deportationsSwedish citizenshipOPINION: 'Sweden's parliament should add transitional rules to the citizenship law'Sweden's Council on Legislation criticises retroactive citizenship rulesSwedish traditionsHow to survive a children's birthday party in SwedenImmigrationWhat does Sweden's plan to restrict benefits for newcomers mean for work permit holders?

In this week’s episode The Local’s Nordic editor Richard Orange interviews Ximena Ramos Salas and her husband Nelson Loyola about the pending deportation of their son Andres.Ximena grew up in Sweden and the family moved back from Canada in 2018 to be with her terminally ill mother in Skåne.Her son, who has severe ADHD, has dropped out of his adult education classes as a result of the stress and anxiety brought on by the decision to deport him."There's no way we're gonna send him back alone. He is fully dependent on us."READ ALSO:'If I’d known, I wouldn't have come': How Sweden's teen deportations deter skilled workersSwedish government to look at allowing teen deportees to graduate

Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSweden in Focus Extra is a podcast for The Local's Membership+ subscribers.Sign up to Membership+ now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ __In this week’s episode The Local’s Nordic editor Richard Orange interviews Ximena Ramos Salas and her husband Nelson Loyola about the pending deportation of their son Andres.Ximena grew up in Sweden and the family moved back from Canada in 2018 to be with her terminally ill mother in Skåne.Her son, who has severe ADHD, has dropped out of his adult education classes as a result of the stress and anxiety brought on by the decision to deport him."There's no way we're gonna send him back alone. He is fully dependent on us."READ ALSO:'If I’d known, I wouldn't have come': How Sweden's teen deportations deter skilled workersSwedish government to look at allowing teen deportees to graduate

Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ This week we talk about a deportation order issued to an eight-year-old infant that has shocked Sweden.In lighter news, we’ll ask why one Swedish town wants more of its inhabitants to get intimate during work hours.__For Membership+ subscribers we dig into the first figures on voluntary repatriation after the government offered a large grant to get more people who came to Sweden as refugees to leave the country.Finally we look at the history of sportlov, Sweden’s annual spring break, and we give advice on how to make best use of the holiday.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange, as well as a late cameo from Richard's children. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:ImmigrationOutrage after Swedish Migration Agency orders baby to be deportedOver 270 foreigners apply for 350,000 kronor grant to leave SwedenWorking in SwedenHow you can get your Swedish employer to pay for your gym membershipWork permitsEverything you need to know about skiing on 'sportlov' in Sweden

This week we talk about a deportation order issued to an eight-year-old infant that has shocked Sweden.In lighter news, we’ll ask why one Swedish town wants more of its inhabitants to get intimate during work hours.For Membership+ subscribers we dig into the first figures on voluntary repatriation after the government offered a large grant to get more people who came to Sweden as refugees to leave the country.Finally we look at the history of sportlov, Sweden’s annual spring break, and we give advice on how to make best use of the holiday.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange, as well as a late cameo from Richard's children. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:ImmigrationOutrage after Swedish Migration Agency orders baby to be deportedOver 270 foreigners apply for 350,000 kronor grant to leave SwedenWorking in SwedenHow you can get your Swedish employer to pay for your gym membershipWork permitsEverything you need to know about skiing on 'sportlov' in Sweden

Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSweden in Focus Extra is a podcast for The Local's Membership+ subscribers.Sign up to Membership+ now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ __In this week’s episode we talk about the latest development on teen deportations, as the issue continues to dominate the headlines in Sweden.The Local’s Nordic editor Richard Orange explains why Sweden is deporting the 18-year-old children of permanent residency applicants. And what are the government's plans now that pressure is mounting to take action to stop the deportation of high school students. Richard also speaks to Besnik Barani, a software developer from Kosovo who has appealed a Migration Agency decision to deport his daughter. Like many other parents The Local has spoken to recently, Barani is hoping for an end to what he describes as an absurd situation. READ ALSO:Swedish government to look at allowing teen deportees to graduateWhat are the proposed solutions to Sweden's teen deportation problem?

In this week’s episode of Sweden in Focus Extra we talk about the latest development on teen deportations, as the issue continues to dominate the headlines in Sweden.The Local’s Nordic editor Richard Orange explains why Sweden is deporting the 18-year-old children of permanent residency applicants. And what are the government's plans now that pressure is mounting to take action to stop the deportation of high school students. Richard also speaks to Besnik Barani, a software developer from Kosovo who has appealed a Migration Agency decision to deport his daughter. Like many other parents The Local has spoken to recently, Barani is hoping for an end to what he describes as an absurd situation. READ ALSO:Swedish government to look at allowing teen deportees to graduateWhat are the proposed solutions to Sweden's teen deportation problem?

This week we have a heavy focus on immigration after the government revealed the details of a proposed new law tightening up citizenship requirement which sparked anger among many readers of The Local, mainly because the new rules will even apply to people who have been waiting years for their applications to be processed.For Membership+ subscribers we also look at the latest on teen deportations as the government comes under pressure to halt the expulsion of the young adult children of permanent residency holders.Finally we focus on work visas after we learned more this week about the government’s plans to allow limited exemptions to salary requirements for permit holders.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists James Savage and Becky Waterton. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Swedish citizenship Sweden reveals plan to tighten up citizenship rulesYour questions about Sweden's new citizenship lawSwedish citizenship almost impossible for stay-at-home partners under new lawTeen deportations Swedish PM says no plans for a freeze on teen deportationsWhat are the proposed solutions to Sweden's teen deportation problem?Work permitsSwedish government tells Migration Agency 'limited need' for work permit exemptions