Sweden, Denmark Tightens Border Controls To Slow Down Influx Of Refugees, Proper Identification With Photo Now Needed To Gain Entry

Sweden has begun strict implementation of identity checks on commuters arriving from Denmark and Germany on Monday in a bid to regulate the number of entering refugees and reduce the risk of terror attacks.

In 2015, more than 160,000 people submitted asylum applications to Sweden and about 10,000 refugees were coming each day, CNN reported Monday. Thousands of migrant refugees have perceived the country as one of the most welcoming and generous in the European continent. Several travelers have been able to enter the country without too many constraints. However, the continuous influx of migrants and the fear of terrorism have placed a limit on the ideals of borderless travel in the nation.

In response to the Swedish government's declaration on December that a number of refugee arrivals put a "serious threat to public order and domestic security," Sweden has introduced temporary border controls to slow down the number of migrant arriving in the country. Under the new restrictions, travelers going to Sweden from Denmark are required to show valid identification documents with a photograph, such as passport or driver's license, before they are allowed entry into the country. Failure to present proper identification will bar a person from entering the country.

The New York Times reported Monday that Sweden's new border control will more likely present a hindrance to thousands of refugees seeking asylum.

Hours after the Swedish government announced its new policy, Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen announced that his country will also impose random ID checking at its borders.

"It is clear to all of us in Europe that we need an overall European solution," Prime Minister Rasmussen said. "The solution won't be found at national borders between Country A and Country B."

Sweden's new policy will take effect in the next three years, while Denmark is to last only for ten days but "with the possibility of extending the controls for another 20 days."

Meanwhile, Schleswig-Holstein's Governor Torsten Albig expressed his dismay at the Danish government's move. Albig says the country's border control measure could "hurt the good coexistence in the German-Danish border region and be especially hard on commuters."

Sweden's former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Carl Bildt also condemned Sweden's new enactment and described its implementation as "a dark day for our Nordic region."