The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKR) has raised concerns about the increasing number of deportations of skilled workers, known as 'competence deportations.' This situation arises from a change in legislation on April 1 of last year, which has led to approximately 650 individuals facing deportation after having their asylum applications denied, despite previously being able to obtain work permits. Anders Henriksson, a representative of SKR, highlighted that the healthcare sector, which currently employs around 39,000 foreign-born professionals including doctors and nurses, is at the heart of this issue.

Zahra Kazemipour and Afshad Joubeh are two foreign-born healthcare workers living in Sweden for the past ten years who have experienced this regime firsthand. Both had work permits that were revoked last autumn, sparking protests at Zahra's workplace, Södra Sjukhuset. During these protests, Kazemipour expressed her discontent with the government's stance, claiming that the new laws, which were initially pitched as targeting criminals, are adversely affecting law-abiding individuals like herself and her family who have established their lives in Sweden by purchasing homes and paying taxes.

The SKR's call for an end to these so-called deportations indicates a broader recognition of the potential ramifications of losing skilled workers who contribute to society. There is a recognition that the existing policies may unfairly impact those who have been integrated into the workforce and are taking up essential roles in sectors facing staffing shortages, particularly within healthcare. The Riksrevision (Swedish National Audit Office) has also pointed out that this system may have been subject to misuse, heightening the urgency for a reevaluation of the relevant immigration laws.