The Danish government has announced plans to abolish the so-called ladder system, a framework that limits the deportation of criminal foreigners based on the severity of their crimes and their length of stay in the country.
The move is part of an effort to streamline deportations for all foreigners sentenced to unconditional prison terms, ensuring stricter measures against those who commit crimes in Denmark.
Currently, the ladder system allows for deportation only in cases where the severity of the crime corresponds to the individual’s length of stay in Denmark, with additional provisions for violent and sexual crimes. Under the new proposal, any foreign national sentenced to an unconditional prison term can be deported, regardless of their time in the country or the length of the sentence, unless doing so would violate Denmark’s international obligations.
Immigration and Integration Minister Kaare Dybvad Bek emphasized the importance of the reform in a press release published last week.
“Unfortunately, foreigners in Denmark are overrepresented in the crime statistics and too often commit serious crimes — such as those related to gang activity. We don’t have to deal with that.
The hammer must fall even harder.
“Therefore, we want to tighten the rules so that we can get even more criminal aliens deported. Every criminal alien who is deported by Denmark is a victory for the legal community and a victory for our country.”
Denmark has reinstated a ban on flying foreign flags to preserve the Dannebrog's symbolic status, with exceptions for Nordic and specific flags, demonstrations, and special permissions. https://t.co/Evj8uti1oc
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) December 3, 2024The government expects the new rules to result in hundreds of additional deportation cases annually. However, Denmark’s international obligations, such as its adherence to the European Convention on Human Rights, could prove to be a considerable stumbling block.
The reform aims to make international obligations the sole limitation on deportations, moving away from the existing structured framework. The government argues that this tightening of deportation rules will send a strong message about the consequences of criminal activity for foreign nationals in Denmark.
The proposed changes will require amendments to existing legislation, with the government aiming for the new rules to take effect on July 1, 2025.
