Published 17 April 2024 at 11.58
Domestic. The Swedish Migration Agency will only be able to expand the detention places so that they become 750 in the coming years. If there are more, more money is needed, according to the authority.
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The government's goal is that the Migration Agency's detention center should have a total of 1,000 places for immigrants who are to be sent home.
– An expanded detention capacity is an important part of the work to increase returns for both the Swedish Migration Agency and the Swedish Police Agency. With the financial resources we have received, we will be able to increase to around 750 places in the coming years, says director general Maria Mindhammar.
The increase is taking place in several stages. In addition to the previously announced expansion at the detention facilities in Mölndal and Flen, the Migration Agency plans to build 80 new detention places in the vicinity of Arlanda. The report shows both how it should be done and how the capacity could be increased by a further 250 seats.
– In order to achieve 1,000 places, both financial support and a clear and early announcement are required so that we can collectively start planning for a larger expansion and localization of the capacity in good time, says Maria Mindhammar in a statement.
For the future expansion, the Migration Agency has identified three areas as particularly suitable: near Arlanda airport, Malmö and Luleå.
Consultations on the matter have taken place with, among others, the Swedish Police Agency and the Prison Service, and according to the agency, dialogues will also continue with other actors – municipal, state and private – who may be affected by an expansion.
In parallel with creating more detention places, the Swedish Migration Agency is tasked by the government with planning for a reformed reception system and establishing return centers, which may to influence where the new detention places are to be placed.
Even the EU's Migration and Asylum Pact which was recently approved in the EU Parliament may affect how the Swedish Migration Agency needs to develop detention operations and adapt the location of detention.