The Justification of Harsh Treatment of Homeless Romanian Migrants in Sweden

Even though government and local officials in Sweden declare concern for the human rights of the homeless immigrants from Eastern Europe, many of which have a Roma decent, some of the these EU citizens fail to receive basic protection such as shelter and access to water and sanitation. The paper questions the influence that the unease toward unwanted migration has on the authorities’ actions for human rights law enforcement. By looking at official statements of the government and local authorities, as well as at data gathered through interviewing social workers, the paper analyses the strategies used for legitimization of the harsh measures taken by the authorities and that infringe upon the universal rights of migrants.