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Asylum Requests Denied, Thousands Stay in Sweden (Some for Years) Asylum Requests Denied, Thousands Stay in Sweden (Some for Years)
(35 minutes later)
MALMO, Sweden — Sentila Kernaja, who turned 21 this week, left Albania in 2015 to escape, she says, a blood feud that had embroiled her family. Months later, Sweden considered their application for asylum but rejected it and asked them to leave.MALMO, Sweden — Sentila Kernaja, who turned 21 this week, left Albania in 2015 to escape, she says, a blood feud that had embroiled her family. Months later, Sweden considered their application for asylum but rejected it and asked them to leave.
But aside from a younger brother, no one in the family has been deported. Ms. Kernaja, three siblings and their disabled mother each collect 1,800 Swedish kronor, about $200, a month from the government. The government covers round-the-clock care for the mother, who is 42 and paralyzed from the waist down. The siblings attend a public high school, free of charge.But aside from a younger brother, no one in the family has been deported. Ms. Kernaja, three siblings and their disabled mother each collect 1,800 Swedish kronor, about $200, a month from the government. The government covers round-the-clock care for the mother, who is 42 and paralyzed from the waist down. The siblings attend a public high school, free of charge.
Ms. Kernaja cleans houses off the books, while inhabiting a legal limbo. “It’s ridiculous,” she said in an interview here in Malmo, Sweden’s third-largest city. “I told them to keep the money and give me a work permit.”Ms. Kernaja cleans houses off the books, while inhabiting a legal limbo. “It’s ridiculous,” she said in an interview here in Malmo, Sweden’s third-largest city. “I told them to keep the money and give me a work permit.”
The family is among an estimated 18,000 people who live in Sweden even though their claims for asylum have been turned down. Their status has come under scrutiny after Rakhmat Akilov, a 39-year-old failed asylum seeker from Uzbekistan, drove a truck into a pedestrian shopping street in Stockholm on April 7 in the country’s worst terrorism attack in decades. (The toll from that attack rose to five on Friday, when a 66-year-old schoolteacher died from her injuries.)The family is among an estimated 18,000 people who live in Sweden even though their claims for asylum have been turned down. Their status has come under scrutiny after Rakhmat Akilov, a 39-year-old failed asylum seeker from Uzbekistan, drove a truck into a pedestrian shopping street in Stockholm on April 7 in the country’s worst terrorism attack in decades. (The toll from that attack rose to five on Friday, when a 66-year-old schoolteacher died from her injuries.)
Though it takes pride its humanitarian heritage and its generous social protections, Sweden is rethinking some of its policies.Though it takes pride its humanitarian heritage and its generous social protections, Sweden is rethinking some of its policies.
It is not easy to get asylum in Sweden — but it is easy to stay if one has been turned down.It is not easy to get asylum in Sweden — but it is easy to stay if one has been turned down.
Ms. Kernaja says her father died 16 years ago when the taxi he was driving was involved in a crash that killed three passengers. The passengers’ relatives want revenge, she said, and have threatened Ms. Kernaja’s family.Ms. Kernaja says her father died 16 years ago when the taxi he was driving was involved in a crash that killed three passengers. The passengers’ relatives want revenge, she said, and have threatened Ms. Kernaja’s family.
The Albanian government acknowledges that dozens of families live in virtual seclusion, fearful of being killed if they leave their homes because of this ancient custom, which survives in a country where the rule of law is weak.The Albanian government acknowledges that dozens of families live in virtual seclusion, fearful of being killed if they leave their homes because of this ancient custom, which survives in a country where the rule of law is weak.
“Some of the most fundamental human rights and freedoms are violated, threatened or not implemented in our country due to the blood feud phenomenon,” a government report found.“Some of the most fundamental human rights and freedoms are violated, threatened or not implemented in our country due to the blood feud phenomenon,” a government report found.
However, asylum claims based on blood feuds are common and are difficult to prove.However, asylum claims based on blood feuds are common and are difficult to prove.
Ms. Kernaja says her family is too scared to go home. For now, they are trying to lie low. But her 19-year-old brother was picked up in February during an identification check and sent home in March. Ms. Kernaja worries that she could be next.Ms. Kernaja says her family is too scared to go home. For now, they are trying to lie low. But her 19-year-old brother was picked up in February during an identification check and sent home in March. Ms. Kernaja worries that she could be next.
Out of 18,000 failed asylum seekers in Sweden, 12,500 have gone underground, according to Patrik Engstrom, head of the Swedish Border Police.Out of 18,000 failed asylum seekers in Sweden, 12,500 have gone underground, according to Patrik Engstrom, head of the Swedish Border Police.
“We have the capacity to deport at most 5,000 rejected applicants a year,” he said. “We’re a smallish law enforcement agency.”“We have the capacity to deport at most 5,000 rejected applicants a year,” he said. “We’re a smallish law enforcement agency.”
The workload is increasing as Sweden continues to move through the 191,000 asylum applications it received in the last two years. Fifty thousand rejections are anticipated, according to government figures.The workload is increasing as Sweden continues to move through the 191,000 asylum applications it received in the last two years. Fifty thousand rejections are anticipated, according to government figures.
The police tried to track down Mr. Akilov, the suspect in the Stockholm rampage, without success, but even if they had found him, deporting him would have been difficult.The police tried to track down Mr. Akilov, the suspect in the Stockholm rampage, without success, but even if they had found him, deporting him would have been difficult.
Six Uzbeks whose asylum applications were rejected in Norway were prosecuted and given long prison sentences when they were returned to Uzbekistan in 2014, according to Memorial, a human rights group.Six Uzbeks whose asylum applications were rejected in Norway were prosecuted and given long prison sentences when they were returned to Uzbekistan in 2014, according to Memorial, a human rights group.
“This is a very hard-core government that controls citizens very thoroughly, even abroad,” said Madelaine Seidlitz, a senior legal adviser with Amnesty International’s Sweden office. “We know that most probably there are Uzbeks in Sweden who are reporting back to the regime.”“This is a very hard-core government that controls citizens very thoroughly, even abroad,” said Madelaine Seidlitz, a senior legal adviser with Amnesty International’s Sweden office. “We know that most probably there are Uzbeks in Sweden who are reporting back to the regime.”
Maruf, 48, an Uzbek who has been living in Sweden since 2004, was approved for asylum last summer after seven and a half years living underground.Maruf, 48, an Uzbek who has been living in Sweden since 2004, was approved for asylum last summer after seven and a half years living underground.
Under a European Union policy known as the Dublin Regulation, a migrant is supposed to stay — and apply for asylum — in the first European Union country that she or he reaches and to wait there while the application is processed.Under a European Union policy known as the Dublin Regulation, a migrant is supposed to stay — and apply for asylum — in the first European Union country that she or he reaches and to wait there while the application is processed.
For Maruf, a slim, agile man of medium height with short hair and alert brown eyes, that country was Germany. He overstayed a tourist visa in Frankfurt in 2004 and eventually took a train to Sweden, where he lived underground until he could no longer be sent back to Germany under the Dublin Regulation.For Maruf, a slim, agile man of medium height with short hair and alert brown eyes, that country was Germany. He overstayed a tourist visa in Frankfurt in 2004 and eventually took a train to Sweden, where he lived underground until he could no longer be sent back to Germany under the Dublin Regulation.
Maruf asked that his surname not be used because he has two adult children still in Uzbekistan and fears for their safety.Maruf asked that his surname not be used because he has two adult children still in Uzbekistan and fears for their safety.
Eventually, Maruf applied for asylum in Sweden, but when his claim was denied, he went underground again, this time for four years.Eventually, Maruf applied for asylum in Sweden, but when his claim was denied, he went underground again, this time for four years.
But during that period, the European Court of Human Rights said in 2012 that involuntary returns to Uzbekistan should be exercised only with extreme caution, given the country’s human rights record.But during that period, the European Court of Human Rights said in 2012 that involuntary returns to Uzbekistan should be exercised only with extreme caution, given the country’s human rights record.
At that point, Maruf emerged from hiding and filed a new application for asylum. This time it was granted, because he been able to demonstrate that he was active in an Uzbek opposition party, he said.At that point, Maruf emerged from hiding and filed a new application for asylum. This time it was granted, because he been able to demonstrate that he was active in an Uzbek opposition party, he said.
John Stauffer, legal director for Civil Rights Defenders, a group in Stockholm, said that after the Stockholm attack, many Swedes were calling for stronger measures against rejected asylum seekers.John Stauffer, legal director for Civil Rights Defenders, a group in Stockholm, said that after the Stockholm attack, many Swedes were calling for stronger measures against rejected asylum seekers.
“Of course, many of these people don’t have the right to be here,” he said. “But our concern is that in finding these people, the police will use methods that will lead to ethnic profiling and discrimination.”“Of course, many of these people don’t have the right to be here,” he said. “But our concern is that in finding these people, the police will use methods that will lead to ethnic profiling and discrimination.”
Fear of a crackdown has been coursing through the Uzbek community, said Fadi Al-Aieshy, an asylum lawyer in Stockholm. Almost 6,000 Uzbeks applied for asylum between 2000 and 2015, he said.Fear of a crackdown has been coursing through the Uzbek community, said Fadi Al-Aieshy, an asylum lawyer in Stockholm. Almost 6,000 Uzbeks applied for asylum between 2000 and 2015, he said.
“Generally, Uzbeks are extremely scared because they run into problems when they go back to Uzbekistan,” he said. “It’s considered treason to apply for asylum.”“Generally, Uzbeks are extremely scared because they run into problems when they go back to Uzbekistan,” he said. “It’s considered treason to apply for asylum.”
He added: “It’s quite easy to disappear in Sweden.”He added: “It’s quite easy to disappear in Sweden.”
Swedish employers often look the other way when it comes to undocumented workers. Maruf said he supported himself by working off the books in construction.Swedish employers often look the other way when it comes to undocumented workers. Maruf said he supported himself by working off the books in construction.
On Thursday, the government unveiled a plan to allow the police to raid businesses if they think there is a chance that people are working there without immigration papers — not only if they have reason to suspect a crime. The proposal would also double fines for those who employ people without the proper work permits.On Thursday, the government unveiled a plan to allow the police to raid businesses if they think there is a chance that people are working there without immigration papers — not only if they have reason to suspect a crime. The proposal would also double fines for those who employ people without the proper work permits.
The system also gives rejected asylum seekers an incentive to try again. Imad al-Tamimi, a Palestinian from the West Bank, had his asylum application rejected in 2010 and cooperated with the police, who wanted to deport him. But in spite of multiple efforts, the Palestinian Embassy was unable or unwilling to issue a passport to travel.The system also gives rejected asylum seekers an incentive to try again. Imad al-Tamimi, a Palestinian from the West Bank, had his asylum application rejected in 2010 and cooperated with the police, who wanted to deport him. But in spite of multiple efforts, the Palestinian Embassy was unable or unwilling to issue a passport to travel.
Anyone who is rejected and manages to stay in Sweden for four years earns the right to file a new asylum claim. Recently, Mr. Tamimi was again rejected. But after eight years, he says, “I cannot imagine myself going back.”Anyone who is rejected and manages to stay in Sweden for four years earns the right to file a new asylum claim. Recently, Mr. Tamimi was again rejected. But after eight years, he says, “I cannot imagine myself going back.”
Sofie Rudh, a spokeswoman for the Swedish Migration Ministry, said the ministry was not disbursing welfare payments for families — like the Kernajas — whose asylum claims have been denied. But such payments from other branches of government are not prohibited. Asked why, she replied, “Swedish people are asking themselves this question, too.” Sofie Rudh, a spokeswoman for the Swedish Migration Ministry, said the ministry was not disbursing welfare payments for families — like the Kernajas — whose asylum claims had been denied. But such payments from other branches of government are not prohibited. Asked why, she replied, “Swedish people are asking themselves this question, too.”