'Deport people smuggled into Sweden'
People who have been smuggled into Sweden should be deported, a leading Social Democrat politician has said. Allowing those who have paid thousands to people smugglers to stay is not fair on people who can't afford to pay to leave their homelands.
Göran Johansson, leader of Gothenburg Council, said he based his views on the fact that many of the 20,000 Iraqis expected to come to Sweden this year came here illegally, often with the help of people smugglers.
"If it is obvious that someone has been smuggled in they should be sent back again," Johansson told newspaper GT.
People pay around 100,000 kronor ($16,000) each to be brought to Sweden.
"We should never accept this. By not saying anything we are tacitly accepting people smuggling," Johansson said.
Johansson admitted that his idea, if put into practice, would lead to more people being returned directly to their homelands.
"Then they can come back by the normal route," he said. He added that it was immoral for money to decide who would make it to Sweden.
"There may be those who can't scrape together 100,000 kronor whose need to come here is perhaps greater. But they don't get a chance," he said.
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Göran Johansson, leader of Gothenburg Council, said he based his views on the fact that many of the 20,000 Iraqis expected to come to Sweden this year came here illegally, often with the help of people smugglers.
"If it is obvious that someone has been smuggled in they should be sent back again," Johansson told newspaper GT.
People pay around 100,000 kronor ($16,000) each to be brought to Sweden.
"We should never accept this. By not saying anything we are tacitly accepting people smuggling," Johansson said.
Johansson admitted that his idea, if put into practice, would lead to more people being returned directly to their homelands.
"Then they can come back by the normal route," he said. He added that it was immoral for money to decide who would make it to Sweden.
"There may be those who can't scrape together 100,000 kronor whose need to come here is perhaps greater. But they don't get a chance," he said.
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