Sweden Faces Challenges in Deporting Afghan Asylum Seekers Without Valid Identity Documents
Swedish Migration Minister Johan Forssell announced that deporting Afghan citizens whose asylum applications have been rejected is facing significant challenges due to the lack of valid identity cards and passports. According to him, this situation has effectively halted or significantly slowed down the return process of these individuals.
Forssell called on European Union member states to agree on a common approach for issuing identity and travel documents to rejected Afghan asylum seekers, especially those who have committed crimes. He emphasized that the EU does not want to engage in formal negotiations or political agreements with the Taliban administration, as doing so would legitimize the regime, but stressed the necessity of technical coordination among member countries.
Speaking on the sidelines of an informal meeting of EU justice and interior ministers in Cyprus to the Associated Press, Forssell said that the deportation of Afghan asylum seekers has become a major concern for Sweden. He noted that there have been cases where Afghan individuals committed crimes in Sweden but their deportation was nearly impossible due to the lack of identity documents.
The Swedish migration minister added that while similar policies apply to Syrian migrants, Afghan asylum seekers are currently prioritized in Sweden’s deportation plans. He explained that the main challenge is the inability to obtain identity cards and passports from Afghanistan for Afghan nationals residing in Europe.
According to Forssell, many Afghan embassies in Europe are not recognized by the Taliban administration, which has caused a deadlock in issuing identity documents. However, he mentioned recent talks between the EU delegation in Kabul and Taliban officials about issuing passports and identity cards for Afghan citizens in Europe, calling it a “first positive step.”
Forssell emphasized that European countries broadly agree on the need to expedite the deportation of rejected or criminal Afghan asylum seekers. He also stated that more than half of Afghan asylum applications will be rejected, and these individuals “must return to their homeland.”
The Associated Press reported that Magnus Brunner, the European Union Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, also confirmed that member states are in technical contact with Taliban officials in Afghanistan to facilitate the return of rejected asylum seekers. These discussions, however, have sparked concerns among refugee advocacy groups due to their political sensitivity and human rights and security implications.
