In a significant move announced on Friday, the Danish government enacted legal reforms designed to facilitate the deportation of foreigners convicted of serious crimes. Under the new rules, any foreign individual sentenced to a minimum of one year of unconditional imprisonment on charges such as aggravated assault or rape faces the possibility of deportation from Denmark.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen outlined that the measures, encompassing a range of legislative amendments, will apply to foreign nationals convicted of grave offenses. However, she acknowledged that these reforms may potentially clash with European human rights conventions, reflecting the complex legal landscape surrounding deportation.
Alongside these regulations, Denmark plans to enhance its immigration enforcement framework. Steps include more rigorous checks on foreign nationals residing in Denmark without legal permission, the introduction of a new electronic anklet monitoring system specifically for foreign criminals, reopening its embassy in Syria, and strengthening partnerships with government authorities in Afghanistan. Frederiksen emphasized that the government is adopting an "unconventional" approach by proactively amending laws to address deportation, rather than waiting for judicial decisions to shape the policy.
Immigration and Integration Minister Rasmus Stoklund highlighted a concerning figure, noting that over the past five years, 315 foreign criminals from non-European Union countries have received prison sentences exceeding one year but were not deported. He remarked that this situation is difficult for many to comprehend, underscoring the government's drive to rectify what it sees as weaknesses in the current system.
This development occurs amid broader shifts within the European Union, of which Denmark is a member, as the bloc wrestles with integration challenges related to foreign nationals and migrants. The EU has been overhauling its migration framework, including enacting tougher restrictions on asylum seekers—efforts that reflect growing political pressures across Europe and other Western countries from right-wing groups concerned about immigration levels.
In summary, Denmark's reforms aim to streamline deportations of serious offenders among foreign nationals, reinforce immigration enforcement, and bolster diplomatic and cooperative ties in the Middle East, alongside evolving EU migration policies.