The French Constitutional Council annulled this Thursday the most controversial measures of President Emmanuel Macron's immigration reform. These include the setting of quotas by Parliament, the restriction of family reunification and the introduction of the criminal offense of “irregular residence”.
“The Constitutional Council criticizes 32 articles of the 'Law to control immigration and improve integration', of which there were 86,” announced the Supreme Court, which also amended five other articles of this reform. whose approval triggered a serious crisis in the ruling party.
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However, the tightening of the law led to a crisis in Macron's party and government, which led to the resignation of a minister.
The nine “wise men”, as the members of the court are called, lifted restrictions on family reunification, tightening access to social benefits and the payment of a “bond” for the return of foreign students.
Other measures abolished include the reintroduction of the crime of irregular residence, the setting of immigration quotas by Parliament and the granting of long-term visas for Britons with a second home in France.
The Supreme Court thus deletes from the text the main measures that Macron's centrist alliance, which does not have an absolute majority in parliament, agreed with the right-wing opposition Republicans (LR) in order to secure their support for this controversial reform in December.
However, the tightening of the law led to a crisis in Macron's party and government, which led to the resignation of a minister and the dismissal of almost all critics of the reform during a government reshuffle in early January.
Thousands of people also demonstrated against the reform on Sunday, and their opponents – associations, groups, lawyers and unions – denounced on Thursday near the Council a text that “severely violates the rights of exiles”.
Deportations of migrants are increasing
Expulsions of immigrants in an irregular situation increased by 10.7% in France In 2023, the number of foreigners who committed crimes increased significantly compared to the previous year; their number was almost a third higher than in 2022 and twice as high as in 2021.
The total number of people expelled from France was 17,048, and if we add those in an irregular situation who left the country even without any order, the number rises to 22,704, 16.9% more than in 2022.
The data comes from a report by the Home Office's Independent Statistics Service, published this Thursdayon the same day that the French Constitutional Council issued its decision on the controversial new immigration law, which tightens the conditions for the entry and stay of foreigners.
AFP and Efe