France: after the pension reform, that of immigration: new battle in perspective in public opinion and in Parliament

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin and Labor Minister Olivier Dussopt, here in November 2022 in the National Assembly, are both carrying the immigration reform project.

© AFP / CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

The immigration bill is presented this Wednesday, February 1 in the Council of Ministers.

In the midst of the debate on pension reform, the executive brings into the atmosphere a text likely to crystallize criticism and whose adoption is not won in advance...

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“

", this is what a Renaissance deputy explains for whom it is not only a question of creating a diversion, but also of giving oneself the time to prepare the ground for this high-risk text, because she adds, at the microphone of

, of the political service, " 

".

It is the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin who is at the maneuver, and to hear an executive from the party of the President of the Republic: he " 

" and for good reason, it is the only passageway.

As with pensions, it is from the side of the Republicans that possible support could come, even if the objective displayed by the executive is to present a text balanced between " 

", with measures to increase expulsions and " 

», with a residence permit to regularize undocumented migrants employed in economic sectors under pressure.

A "Macronian" text par excellence, but which has not achieved its objective of casting a wide net since at this stage, neither the left nor the right want it.

► The bill is carried by the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin, for its security component (the most important), and that of Labour, Olivier Dussopt, for the more economic and social part.

The main provisions of the law

 -

This is the main part of the bill (half of the twenty-five articles): it is a question of facilitating expulsions, in the first place those of foreigners already convicted "for crimes and misdemeanors ten or more years' imprisonment.

The government wants to "reduce the scope of protections against decisions imposing an obligation to leave French territory (OQTF) when the foreigner has committed acts constituting a serious threat to public order, public security or State security. ".

In its viewfinder, the “protections” enjoyed by certain foreigners, in particular those residing in France for more than ten years, a “brake on remoteness”, summarizes the executive in the text transmitted in mid-December to the Council of State.

While the rate of execution of OQTFs, the subject of recurring controversy, is below 10%, the government wants to "simplify the rules of litigation" which clogs the administrative courts, by reducing from twelve to four the possible appeals against expulsions .

 Always with the aim of deporting people more efficiently, but also to speed up procedures, a “structural reform” of asylum is planned.

The State wants to extend the use of a single judge to the National Court for the Right of Asylum (CNDA), which essentially rules collegially, except for “complex” cases.

It is a question of “adapting” the CNDA to “the extent of the litigation”.

The text also provides for the creation of “territorial chambers for the right of asylum”, while the CNDA is currently based only in the Paris region.

“France Asylum” spaces are planned, bringing together agents from the French Office for Immigration and Integration (Ofii), the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (Ofpra) and the prefectures.

The objective: “Shorten the timeframe of the procedure by several weeks”.

 The executive wants to allow undocumented workers who have been present in the territory for three years to obtain a "short-lived occupations" residence permit, valid for one year, in sectors with labor shortages. artwork.

An “experimental” measure, scheduled until December 31, 2026. The list of shortage occupations must still be updated.

The bill also provides for the creation of a multi-year "talent - medical and pharmacy professions" residence permit, intended for qualified practitioners outside the European Union, "as soon as they are recruited by a public or private health establishment non-profit ".

 This title, which entitles you to a residence permit for a maximum of four years, aims to "meet the need to recruit qualified health personnel" such as doctors, midwives, dental surgeons and pharmacists.

   The government also wants to allow access to the labor market for asylum seekers "for whom it is highly probable, given their nationality, that they will obtain international protection in France", thus exempting them from

   The executive wants to "condition the first issue of a multi-year residence permit to mastering a minimum level of French", where a simple participation in language training is now required .

   The measure aims to “encourage foreigners who wish to stay permanently in the territory to mobilize more in their learning of French”, in order to “promote their integration in France”.

(with AFP)

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• French politics

• Immigration