Macron reform of migration laws ‘DANGEROUS’: French president’s proposals ‘lack dignity’

The centrist government has insisted the new legislation is totally “in line with European law”.

However, others have labelled it extreme.

Socialist party coordinator Rachid Temal said: “The new immigration and asylum bill proposed during today’s cabinet meeting is obviously unbalanced and potentially dangerous.

“Although some of the changes are a step in the right direction, the key measures [contained in the bill] constitute a violation of civil rights and of the right of defence. [The measures] weaken the right to asylum – which is something the government had pledged to defend – and break with France’s tradition of refugee protection.

“This text focuses on controlling migration flows by dissuading migrants from seeking asylum in France. But it does not focus on dignity and on the need to improve the protection of migrants.”

The left-wing senator continued, adding that his party would suggest amendments to modify the bill.

The controversial law, which was put to parliament on Wednesday, will double to 90 days the time in which illegal immigrants can be detained, shorten deadlines to apply for asylum from 120 to 90 days and make illegal border crossings an offence punishable by one year in prison and fines.

Interior minister Gérard Collomb, for his part, said that the new law is “totally balanced” and “in line with European law,” before adding that he was confident that parliament would approve the reform.

He said: “We must welcome refugees. But we must also do more to help those that we do welcome so that their dream of a better life in France doesn’t become a nightmare. We want to make their ‘French dream’ a reality.”

Mr Collomb also argued France would attract refugees put off by harsher rules elsewhere in Europe if it did not harden its immigration laws.

He said: “If we don’t take this into account, we won’t be able to guarantee the right to asylum in France.”

Asked why the government wanted to reduce the waiting time on asylum applications from 11 to six months – another key measure – Mr Collomb said: “Because for those for whom asylum is granted, it is better to begin integrating into French society as early as possible.”

The new immigration policy, however, has sparked discord among Mr Macron’s own ranks.

Mathieu Orphelin, a lawmaker from the president’s La République en Marche (La REM) party, said during a parliamentary debate on Tuesday that increasing the time migrants can be held in detention from 45 days to 90 days would be “problematic”.

La REM lawmaker Sonia Krimi, a Franco-Tunisian, for her part, added that the government was “playing with people’s fears” and that “not all foreigners are terrorists”.