PARIS – Youssouf Doucoure, a Malian immigrant, distributed flyers opposing stringent French migration legislation in Paris’ Trocadero Square on January 21, as a massive crowd gathered for a final protest against the recently enacted bill. Doucoure, 25, expressed concern about the rise in anti-migrant sentiment, attributing it to politicians rather than the ordinary French populace.
The Constitutional Council, France’s highest constitutional authority, delivered a boost to the tens of thousands protesting against stricter immigration policies by rejecting significant portions of the legislation on Thursday. The council, responding to President Emmanuel Macron’s request for a review, deemed measures making it more challenging for immigrants to access welfare and reunite with their families as unconstitutional.
While migrant rights advocates welcome this decision, challenges persist as far-right ideologies gain traction, contributing to the hardening of views and laws against undocumented migrants. The number of undocumented migrants in 2023 reached its highest level since the 2015-2016 migrant crisis in the European Union.
Eric Maurice, an analyst with the Brussels-based European Policy Centre, highlighted a broader European trend focusing on intensified border controls and increased scrutiny of migrants. This aligns with France’s current stance, reflecting a continent-wide shift.
The European border agency Frontex reported a 17% increase in illegal border crossings in 2023 compared to the previous year, with Syrians, Guineans, and Afghans leading the list of new arrivals. However, the atmosphere in Europe is less welcoming today than during the 2015-2016 crisis.
Notably, Germany, which accepted nearly a million asylum seekers during the previous crisis, has undergone a transformation in rhetoric. Chancellor Olaf Scholz now emphasizes the need for more qualified foreign workers while advocating for large-scale deportations of those with no legal right to stay.
Populist, anti-immigration parties are gaining ground in various EU member states, including Italy and the Netherlands. A recent study by the European Council on Foreign Relations predicts populist parties may dominate the upcoming European Parliament elections in nine EU countries.
These political shifts influence Macron’s strategy, with polls indicating a significant portion of French voters leaning towards the right-wing opposition National Rally party. Macron’s immigration bill, a crucial element for his second term, faced internal opposition but gained support from far-right groups like the National Rally.
The contested legislation proposes making it tougher for immigrants to obtain French legal papers and citizenship, treating undocumented migration as a minor offense, requiring foreign students to pay a deposit, and revoking French citizenship for dual nationals convicted of crimes. Despite opposition, polls suggest strong public support for the bill.
Critics argue that the legislation contradicts fundamental principles of welcome and fraternity. Protests in Paris and concerns raised by various groups highlight the divisive nature of the bill, as sentiments regarding identity and societal insecurity intensify.
Despite these challenges, the European Union reached a December agreement reforming asylum and migration laws, aiming to streamline vetting processes and more equitably distribute the burden among member states. However, the pact faces criticism from migrant rights groups, who argue it will establish a “cruel system.” In France, critics contend that the new migration bill contradicts the country’s values of welcome and fraternity.
