STORTING (Nettavisen): In a bold announcement on NRK’s Politisk kvarter this Monday, Sylvi Listhaug, leader of the Progress Party (FRP), revealed the party’s plan to propose legislation aimed at deporting foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes, irrespective of their ties to Norway.
Listhaug remarked, “If the Labor Party supports this, it would signal a majority in favor of removing criminals who engage in rape, serious violence, and other significant offenses from the country,” as she told Klassekampen.
Inspired by Denmark’s recent approach, which was highlighted by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in her New Year’s address, the FRP’s initiative echoes a call for reform; the Danish government has committed to deporting any foreigner sentenced to at least one year in prison.
Erlend Wiborg, the FRP’s immigration spokesperson, expressed his expectation for bipartisan support, suggesting that the Labor Party, the Center Party, and the Conservatives might back this initiative. “We are demanding that the government present a formal proposal to the Storting before summer break, stipulating that anyone who commits a serious crime in Norway will face automatic deportation without exceptions,” Wiborg stated.
For his part, Wiborg defines “serious crime” as any offense warranting a prison term of one year or more.
Closer to home, the FRP aims to abolish the Directorate of Immigration’s proportionality assessment when deporting individuals with family in Norway. Moreover, the party seeks to remove the safeguards that currently protect refugees from deportation.
The proposal emphasizes that all immigrants guilty of serious crimes must be expelled from Norway, regardless of their connections to the nation, including asylum seekers and refugees. If repatriation to their homeland is unfeasible, these individuals should be relocated to a secure third country through an agreement established by Norway.
However, Jon Ole Martinsen, a senior adviser at the Norwegian organization for asylum seekers, labeled this approach “unwise.” He cautioned against both Norway and Denmark challenging international law, emphasizing that Norway already has stringent practices in place. “The norm is deportation for those who commit criminal offenses,” he asserted.
As discussions unfold, the outcome of this proposal will likely spark considerable debate within Norway and beyond.