The Minister for Immigration () was formerly a commonly used term for the cabinet minister within the Swedish government responsible for immigration and refugee affairs. In 1996, the function was divided between two cabinet ministers: the minister for migration and Refugee Policy and the minister for integration. Subsequently, responsibility for these matters has been moved organizationally between different ministries.
History The Social Democrat Ulla Lindström became a cabinet minister without portfolio in Prime Minister Tage Erlander's on 4 June 1954 and was the first Swedish minister responsible for refugee affairs and certain immigration matters. Her area of responsibility was broad and included, among other things, citizenship, refugee affairs, international aid, and social issues. Citizenship cases largely concerned Baltic refugees and Nordic citizens who wished to settle in Sweden. Although her responsibilities in several respects foreshadowed what would later be handled by ministers for immigration, immigration was not yet a politically prominent or particularly controversial issue. Lindström therefore did not have a distinct "immigration minister" portfolio in the modern sense; rather, these matters formed part of a considerably broader ministerial portfolio.
From 1967 to 1973, Camilla Odhnoff served as minister for family affairs, youth and immigration. From 1973 to 1976, Anna-Greta Leijon served as minister for immigration and gender equality. From 1976 to 1977, Per Ahlmark was responsible for immigration affairs in his capacity as minister for employment and gender equality. From 1976 to 1978, Ola Ullsten served as minister for international development cooperation and also held responsibility for immigration affairs.
In 1978, Rolf Wirtén served as minister for employment, gender equality and immigration. From 1978 to 1979, Eva Winther was minister for immigration and gender equality, followed by Karin Andersson, who held the same portfolios from 1979 to 1982. From 1982 to 1986, Anita Gradin served as minister for immigration and gender equality. From 1986 to 1989, Georg Andersson served solely as minister for immigration. From 1989 to 1991, Maj-Lis Lööw served as minister for immigration and gender equality. From 1991 to 1994, Birgit Friggebo served as minister for culture and immigration, while also serving as minister for gender equality from 1991 to 1993. Finally, from 1994 to 1996, Leif Blomberg served as minister for immigration and labour law.
Since 1996, the position has been divided between a minister for integration and a minister for migration.
List of officeholders
Cabinet ministers responsible for immigration and refugee affairs Portrait Minister(Born-Died) Term Political Party Coalition CabinetTook officeLeft officeDuration
See also Minister for Integration Minister for Migration
References