Denmark to expel non-Danish citizens if jailed for at least one year for serious crimes

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The Danish government announced Friday a deportation reform to expel non-Danish citizens who have been sentenced to at least one year of imprisonment for serious crimes, like aggravated assault and rape.

The new measures, to take effect from May 1 (if approved), also include tightened controls on foreigners without legal residence and introduce a new ankle monitor for those who fail to comply with their reporting requirements.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said her centre-right coalition government was acting “unconventionally” and was amending legislation rather than waiting for European Court of Human Rights decisions on deportation cases.

Some experts might think that we are breaking the convention with this. We see it the other way around

Mette Frederiksen

Prime Ministter of Denmark

In May last year, Frederiksen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, along with nine European leaders, signed an open letter calling for a reinterpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights.

“It is because a majority of the countries behind the convention share Denmark’s desire to change the interpretation that we are now tightening further,” Frederiksen said at a press conference. “When international rules were drafted, I don’t think anyone imagined that someone would flee the Middle East to come to the best country in the world and start raping girls and women,” she added.

Expulsions are not automatic under current Danish regulations; however, according to the immigration ministry, around 70% of the foreign nationals sentenced to prison for one year or more have been expelled. Minister Rasmus Stoklund said over the last five years, 315 of these criminals were not expelled.

Frederiksen’s government has pursued a “zero refugee” policy since coming to power in 2019. Last year marked a historic low in asylum admissions for the Scandinavian country. According to the government, 839 requests were granted by the end of November. It was only the fourth time that fewer than 1,000 claims were accepted since 1983.

The Danish announcement comes as the EU unveiled a new five-year strategy on migration. The bloc wants to reinforce partnerships with third countries to ensure the return of nationals and reduce irregular migration to Europe.