Denmark to Deport Foreigners Sentenced to More Than One Year in Prison

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has announced that Denmark will implement a strict new policy under which foreign nationals sentenced to one year or more in prison will be deported immediately upon completion (or in some cases even before completion) of their sentence.
Speaking in Parliament, the Prime Minister stated:
“We are prepared to take the toughest and fastest measures possible within the framework of current international law and conventions. And where those laws prove insufficient or fail to adequately protect our citizens, then we will have to change them.”
Key Elements of the Policy:
Applies to foreign nationals (both EU and non-EU) receiving prison sentences of one year or longer.
Deportation to take place directly after (or in serious cases, even during) the sentence.
For particularly serious crimes (murder, serious sexual offences, organised crime, major drug offences, terrorism-related crimes), deportation may apply even for sentences exceeding six months.
Objective: Significantly reduce the number of repeat foreign offenders in Denmark and enhance public safety.
Frederiksen stressed that this is not a violation of human rights, but rather a matter of rule of law and citizen protection.
Reactions & Context
The policy has strong backing from the government’s coalition partners and the Danish People’s Party.
Human rights organisations and parts of the opposition have warned that the measures could conflict with international obligations, particularly the European Convention on Human Rights and the principle of non-refoulement.
The Prime Minister made clear that if current international frameworks prevent Denmark from protecting its citizens, the country is ready to push for changes — even if it requires renegotiation at European level.
The announcement marks one of the strictest migration-related criminal justice policies proposed by Denmark in recent years and is being described as part of a broader “zero-tolerance” approach toward foreign offenders.