France is planning to move forward with a controversial immigration law, despite having many of its measures invalidated by the country’s Constitutional Council. The rejected measures, which were influenced by right-wing and far-right pressures, were deemed invalid, but the new law still indicates a toughening of the immigration rules.
Under the new law, foreigners legally residing in France could face deportation if they have criminal convictions. This includes individuals who arrived in France before the age of 13 or those who have lived in the country for over 20 years and are deemed to pose a significant threat to public order. The French Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, stated that the government’s measures have been validated and emphasized the tough nature of the new law.
The law introduces provisions preventing authorities from detaining individuals under the age of 18 and grants prefects the authority to issue one-year residence permits to undocumented workers in sectors experiencing labor shortages, such as construction.
The announcement coincides with recent migration statistics from France’s interior ministry, revealing a 10.7% increase in the number of foreign offenders expelled in 2023 compared to the previous year, as well as an 8.6% rise in asylum applications.
With the upcoming European Parliament elections and President Emmanuel Macron facing challenges from the far right, securing legislative support from parties outside the government is crucial. The previous immigration law passed with the support of right-wing Republicans and the far-right National Rally, but faced criticism from left-wing parties for allegedly enabling the far right.
In response to the invalidated measures, government officials hailed the Constitutional Council’s decision as a victory, highlighting the preservation of the original measures that were initially rejected by MPs. However, the opposition expressed discontent, with the leader of the Republicans stating the need for constitutional reform to protect France’s destiny.
Though the added measures were scrapped, it was noted that the decision was based on their perceived lack of connection to the initial legislation rather than their content. The French right is now advocating for a second immigration bill, but the interior minister has indicated no intention to pursue this.
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