2012-02-09

Update: Swedes investigate 200 Chinese families for immigration violations

The first post on this story linked to a Chinese story. An English article has been written now. See Exodus on the Rocks. Sweden, like most Western countries, has been very welcoming of foreigners. Here are a few quotes indicating the shift in attitudes:
Swedish immigration officials got involved in late 2010 after some immigrants with work visas complained about agents such as Hu. Allegations of fraud were likewise raised by the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Swedish Embassy in China.
The year is the important date, as immigration became a hot political issue during the Swedish elections.
"The reason was simple," Swedish Immigration Bureau Chief Executor Jonas Lindgren said. "If you did not provide truthful information on the application, the immigration bureau may thus expel you.

Some of those probed and found guilty by the immigration bureau have won appeals. For each victory, an immigration court said authorities could not prove applicants had submitted false information, and ruled they should be allowed to live in Sweden under work visas or residency permits.

Since the newspaper Svenska Dagbladet broke the story about alleged immigration fraud by Chinese newcomers last June, some Swedes have questioned their country's immigration policy as well as the honesty of some of their new Chinese neighbors.

"The media coverage may have given Swedish society a negative impression that Chinese people come here to enjoy Swedish welfare," said Ye Keqing, president of the Swedish Chinese Association.

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