Denmark unveils legal reform to allow the worst foreign criminals to be deported

Denmark on Friday announced a legal reform that allows the deportation of foreigners sentenced to unconditional imprisonment of at least one year for serious crimes.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the measure would affect all foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes such as aggravated assault and rape, but acknowledged the idea, which is part of a series of legal changes, could conflict with European human rights treaties.

Denmark will also tighten controls on foreigners without legal residence, implement a new wristband tracking system for criminal aliens, reopen an embassy in Syria and strengthen cooperation with authorities in Afghanistan.

Frederiksen told a news conference that the government was acting “out of the box” and amending the legislation rather than waiting for court decisions on deportation cases.

Minister of Immigration and Integration Rasmus Stoklund said that 315 foreign criminals from countries outside the European Union were sentenced to more than one year in prison in the last five years, but were not deported.

“Many of us have a hard time understanding this,” he said at the press conference.

The announcement comes as the EU, which counts Denmark as a member, is grappling with the integration of foreign nationals and immigrants and strengthening its legal arsenal.

Last month, the 27-member country bloc began finalizing an overhaul of its immigration system, including tougher restrictions on accepting asylum claims.

Many far-right groups and political parties in Europe and the Western world have expressed growing anger at what they see as a wave of unwanted immigration in recent years.