Copenhagen, February 26, 2026 – The Europe Today: Denmark has unveiled a sweeping legal reform that will allow authorities to deport foreign nationals sentenced to at least one year of unconditional imprisonment for serious crimes.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the measure would apply to foreign citizens convicted of grave offences such as aggravated assault and rape. She acknowledged, however, that the proposal — part of a broader package of legal changes — could face challenges under European human rights conventions.
Under the reform plan, Denmark will also tighten controls on foreigners residing in the country without legal status, introduce electronic ankle monitors for criminal foreign nationals, reopen its embassy in Syria, and enhance cooperation with authorities in Afghanistan.
Frederiksen stated at a press conference that the government was acting “unconventionally” by amending legislation directly rather than waiting for court rulings in individual deportation cases.
Immigration and Integration Minister Rasmus Stoklund noted that over the past five years, 315 foreign criminals from countries outside the European Union had received prison sentences exceeding one year but were not expelled from Denmark.
“Many of us find that hard to understand,” Stoklund said, underscoring the government’s determination to ensure that serious offenders without Danish citizenship face deportation.
The proposed reforms signal a tougher stance on immigration and criminal justice, reflecting growing political pressure in Denmark to strengthen border controls and public security measures.
