Thousands, along with undocumented migrants, protest in France in direction of govt’s immigration plans

By Agence France-Presse: Thousands of people, along with many undocumented migrants, marched in Paris and completely different French cities on Saturday (native time), protesting deliberate changes to immigration authorized pointers and evictions from the Indian Ocean island of Mayotte.

In the French capital, demonstrators marched behind a banner proclaiming “No to the Darmanin law. Against repression, imprisonment and deportations, for a welcoming migration policy”, a reference to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.

Organisers acknowledged that 2,300 people turned out for the protest in Paris.

The immigration bill, which the federal authorities has merely postponed until the autumn, “is a racist law, which aims to criminalise foreigners” and end in “more deportations”, acknowledged Aboubacar (31), an undocumented Malian.

“The problem is not immigration. It’s exploitation and rogue bosses,” acknowledged the submit office sub-contractor who, with colleagues, has been combating for 17 months to accumulate his official paperwork to reside and work in France.

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The protesters moreover took intention at Operation Wuambushi (Take Back) being carried out by the authorities on the French Indian Ocean Island of Mayotte to ship once more illegal immigrants, most from neighbouring Comoros, in the intervening time housed in unsanitary shanty cities.

“The way undocumented Comorans are treated is unworthy of a country like France,” acknowledged Marie-Christine Vergiat, vice-president of the French Human Rights League and a former member of the European parliament.

The Darmanin bill and the operation in Mayotte are linked, Said Mhamadi, a Comoran civil chief, acknowledged throughout the southern port metropolis of Marseille, the place as a lot as 300 people demonstrated.

‘CONTROLLING IMMIGRATION’

The controversial bill, entitled “Controlling immigration while improving integration”, is aimed, amongst completely different points, at providing higher scope for deportation, notably for foreigners who commit crimes.

It would require a minimal stage of French sooner than a multi-year residence permit might very nicely be granted, would introduce compulsory fingerprinting, and tighten requirements for the renewal of long-term permits.

On Wednesday, the French authorities as quickly as as soon as extra failed to achieve consensus on the immigration bill, which is taken under consideration too divisive in an already abrasive social native climate.

The authorities is promising a steadiness between the expulsion of foreigners who threaten public order and better integration of undocumented migrants, notably by regularising workers in sectors the place manpower is required.

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But whereas its critics contemplate the reforms are too authoritarian, Eric Ciotti, the head of the right-wing Republicans, believes they don’t go far ample.

“No more rights for illegal immigrants, no more social benefits from the first day” for regular immigrants, he acknowledged.

The authorities desires the help of the Republicans, as a result of it has a majority throughout the upper-house Senate. President Emmanuel Macron misplaced his parliamentary majority in elections last June.

On Saturday, In the northwestern metropolis of Rennes, over 1,500 people took to the streets chanting “down with the police state”.

“I came in solidarity with the Comoros and to protest against the brutal measures taken by France in Mayotte, it’s very violent and there are other ways of dealing with it,” 32-year-old Theodore Sobezy suggested AFP.