France passes law tightening rules on immigrants
Marine Le Pen senses a political opportunity in the upcoming elections, considering the reformed immigration law as a "great ideological victory" for her far-right party
The joint committee in the French Parliament, composed of members from the Senate and deputies, reached an agreement on the new immigration law after discussions were halted on Monday. While the approval of this text represents a parliamentary majority victory, it carries serious political consequences, as it tightens rules for immigrants, which the left-wing views as a “deep stigma against republican principles.”
The French Parliament finally approved a controversial immigration law after lengthy and difficult negotiations that concluded on Tuesday night. Members of the National Assembly and the Senate agreed on a common version of the text, with votes from the right and far-right in favor, while the left voted against. Centrist parties supporting the government were divided on the issue.
Immediately after the approval of the law, the Socialist Party announced its intention to challenge it before the Constitutional Council. However, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin quickly welcomed the approval of the law, stating in a post on Twitter, “The immigration text has been definitively approved… a long battle for better integration of foreigners and the expulsion of those who commit criminal acts… a strong and resolute text.”
In contrast, the leader of the far-left France Unbowed party, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, condemned the law, considering its approval a “disgusting victory” achieved thanks to the votes of the far-right. He said through Twitter, “A new political axis has been established.”
To gain support from the right, the French government agreed to ease residency permit measures, while working to delay immigrants’ access to social welfare entitlements.
For a long time, the French took pride in having one of the most generous social welfare systems globally, providing allowances even to foreign residents, helping them with rent or child care through monthly contributions amounting to a few hundred euros. Recently, far-right and conservative voices argued that these benefits should be reserved for the French population only.
According to the draft text, support for rent and family allowances for foreigners living in the country is subject to certain conditions. Working foreigners can benefit from rent support after three months of arrival in France, while non-working foreigners can benefit after five years. Similarly, foreigners with jobs can access family benefits after 30 months in the country, while those without jobs can access them after 5 years.
Additionally, dual-citizenship individuals committing crimes against law enforcement may be stripped of their French citizenship.
The law, which includes issuing a special residency card for professions facing labor shortages in the country, also sets quotas for immigration.
Children of foreign families born in France between the ages of 16 and 18 can apply for French citizenship and must not have committed any crimes previously.
Within the scope of the law, family reunification conditions become more stringent, and a financial guarantee will be taken from foreign students coming to France for education, covering the costs of the return of a student if a decision is made to deport them from French territory.
Just six months before the European Parliament elections, where immigration is expected to be a crucial element, Marine Le Pen can also benefit from what she described as a “great ideological victory” in the reformed law for her far-right party.
The government surprised many by announcing that its party would vote in favor of the law, causing significant embarrassment for the leftist wing of President Emmanuel Macron‘s party, which finds it unacceptable to vote in harmony with the far-right.
On Sunday, prominent unions in France, along with heads of human rights associations and academics, asked President Macron to withdraw the immigration law, which they consider a “deep stigma against our republican principles.”
The general secretaries of the two unions, Marylise Leon and Sophie Binet, along with the heads of the charitable associations “CIMADE” and “Auberge des Migrants,” the Human Rights League, and “France Terre d’Asile,” affirmed that the measures in the approved text, endorsed by the Senate and adopted by the joint committee, constitute a “foundation that undermines many of our republican principles in terms of unconditional access to healthcare or housing, respect for dignity, and rejection of supporting national preference.”
The signatories pointed out that there are many “settling” or “bargaining” measures, such as the requirement to receive social benefits for five years of legal residence in France, re-criminalizing illegal residency, canceling government medical aid, tightening conditions for obtaining residency permits, or even hinting at increasing deportation operations.
The signatories condemned the “negative atmosphere” in France and Europe and “increasing feelings of hatred and rejection of the other,” stating that “the only viable way today is to withdraw the proposed law that has proven it cannot be adopted by a parliamentary majority based on respect for our republican values.”
