Inside Sweden’s Migration Agency: Majority of Staff From Non-Swedish Backgrounds
7th January 2026
A report from Samnytt provides an unprecedented look inside Sweden’s Migration Agency, highlighting challenges related to staff composition, workplace culture, and internal practices. Sources who have worked at the agency for decades describe a complex environment shaped by linguistic groups, clan affiliations, and internal loyalties.
Currently, a majority of the agency’s approximately 6,000 employees come from non-Swedish backgrounds. Many do not hold Swedish citizenship, and staff often speak their own language within their group. According to a source, “What affects things most is that everyone speaks their own language, so you don’t understand what is being said between groups and colleagues.” This dynamic, combined with longstanding clan networks, has reportedly introduced a Middle Eastern clan mentality into daily operations.
The source described how group loyalties influence decisions on residence permits, work permits, and other administrative matters, sometimes benefiting relatives or clan members. This behavior became so normalized that it happens openly, without any fear of internal consequences. Additionally, chants and songs such as “from the river to the sea” have been heard in the agency’s break room, reflecting political or cultural affiliations among some staff.