Accompany
Detainees

Country Offices

 

JRS Sweden - sweden(a)jrs.net Political Developments More than 36,000 persons sought asylum in Sweden in 2007, almost half coming from Iraq. The number of Iraqi asylum seekers, often Chaldean Catholic Christians, doubled in 2007 rising from 8,951 in 2006 to 18,559. The number of Somalis more than tripled, going up from 1,066 in 2006 to 3,349. Recognition rates increased by 40% compared with 2006. More than 90% of asylum applications from Iraqis and Somalis were approved. In Sweden, upon arrival, asylum seekers are not detained. Instead, asylum seekers are housed in cities and rural areas. They have access to education, health care and after four months in Sweden they are allowed to work.

There are five closed detention centres with a total capacity of around 150 places. The biggest is Märsta, close to Stockholm International Airport, which increased it’s capacity from 35 to 70 places in January 2007. Foreign citizens can be placed in administrative detention centres either by the police or the Swedish Migration Board. Detainees are: rejected asylum seekers who, according to the Swedish authorities, would otherwise go into hiding, individuals refused entry due to doubts about the authenticity of travel documents, or persons being considered for readmission under the Dublin II regulation.

JRS Activities

JRS Sweden was fully established as a country office in 2007. A detention visitors group was created in March 2007 and on 3 December 2007, JRS Sweden was officially registered as a non profit organisation by the Swedish State.

Detention

Before starting visits to the detention centre, a training workshop was organised in cooperation with the Swedish Refugee Advice centre. A second training workshop in autumn also incorporated seminarians from the local Catholic seminary. In 2007 the volunteer group totaled 9 volunteers, including 2 Jesuits. The main task of the detention visitors group was to give moral support to the detainees, help them get in touch with lawyers, their relatives and, mediate between the detainees, the police and the Swedish migration board. Confessions and Holy Communion were also offered to Catholic detainees.

On a case by case basis, especially for detainees held under the Dublin II agreement, contacts were established with NGOs or JRS offices in the detainees’ destination countries to ensure adequate support and a fair treatment upon arrival. On a less structured basis JRS offered help and advice to irregular migrants.



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