Sweden issued nearly 110,000 resident permits over the last year, marking the highest annual amount on record. The figure, which marks a 19 percent increase from the year previously, was revealed via the latest report from the Swedish Migration Board (Migrationsverket). Officials from the agency said that the majority of the increase is comprised of refugees; the number of refugee applications processed in 2012 saw a year-on-year increase of 37 percent, according to the report.
Among all refugees, Syrians accounted for 18 percent, whilst Afghans comprised of 11 percent and Somalis accounted for about 13 percent. The majority of Syrians came in the latter half of the year, with around 4,600 of the 5,000 that were granted refuge arriving after 1 July. A total of 7,000 Syrians applications were processed during the 12-month period.
Meanwhile, those immigrating to Sweden on family-based applications accounted for the largest portion of new residents, with more than 40,000 permits issued in 2012 – marking a 27 percent increase from 2011. The highest number of applications came from India and China, Mitigation Board officials said in the report.
Meanwhile, Chinese applicants were also the largest group among students, although many also came from the United States, Turkey, India and Australia.
As an immigrant and being from a country that received massive inflows of people in the past, I feel that I have a good perspective. My homeland was basically repopulated with people from far away lands. Once we were the minority, we became powerless and were made servants of the new majority. My native language and religion are gone forever.
Anita, I can see your point of view since elimination of borders would help your people move to wealthier countries. Countries such as India and Pakistan are having a difficult time controlling their population growth and are depending on the western world to be a relief valve. It isn’t hard to see why the native people of Europe would be worried about their future since most of the people from the poorer nations want to move there. Over-population is one of the roots of poverty.
In the end, it is the Scandinavians who will decide if they want to continue as a people.
Anita, your dream is fine but it will never be a reality. A vast majority of the world does not see things the same way as you do. If a culture allows itself to be overwhelmed by others, it will simply cease to exist and be replaced. This is usually done by force but the Scandinavians have not lost a war, but have let it happen without any real reason other than it makes some people feel good about themselves. Get ready to say goodbye to womens rights, stewardship of the environment, welfare, etc.. and most of all a culture that has existed for 1000s of years that will be gone in less than 100. I am sure you would be upset if the disappearing culture was somewhere in Africa, Asia or South America. I for one am sad to see any culture, language or people removed from the face of the earth.
This is a reply to K Moe, who exactly should Scandinavia be protecting itself from and why? Giving homeland away to strangers? We are all on this planet together and no piece of land truly belongs to any one man, group or country. This Earth is ours to share and I pray for the day when we will be able to travel through and live in any one corner of this planet without asking for some officials’ permission.
One day Scandinavia will no longer be Scandinavian. If they lack the will to protect their own, then they will get what they deserve. No other people on the face of this earth has ever been stupid enough to give their homeland away to total strangers. Good luck Scandinavia, you will need it