Almost 1,160 foreigners have been forcibly removed from Norway so far this year, a 40 percent rise on the same time last year. The biggest increase was among convicted criminals where 427 have been thrown out of the country, up 60 percent on the previous year.
TV2 reported at the same time in 2013, 820 foreigners had been deported. The total number of people without legal residence who were expelled last year was 5,934, up from just under 5,000 in 2012. This year, the target is 6,700 forced deportations. The crackdown is in line with the new government’s promises to get tough on illegal immigrants.
“It is an important policy target in the context of the asylum chain,” said Justice Minister Anders Anundsen of the Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet, Frp), which supports more restrictions on refugee and immigrant numbers into Norway. “If you’re not allowed stay, you must leave the country quickly. This will also lead more to return voluntarily.” He said an increased emphasis on deporting convicted criminals was also a government priority.
newsinenglish.no staff
