A bill on asylum and immigration will be tabled “from the beginning of 2023”, Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday, with the aim of putting an end to an “absurd policy” which he considered both “ineffective and inhuman”. To remedy this, the Head of State advocated the distribution of immigrants over a larger part of French territory, particularly in rural areas.
“A bill relating to asylum, and therefore immigration to the Republic, will be tabled at the start of 2023”announced the Head of State to the prefects, outlining a few lines of action.
“We have a policy which is both inefficient and inhumane, inefficient because we find ourselves with more foreigners in an irregular situation than many of our neighbours, inhumane because this pressure means that they are too often badly received”he asked by way of observation.
On the reception side, the Head of State deemed it necessary to“integrate much faster and much better those who even have a provisional title”noted the Head of State.
The Head of State pleaded for a greater distribution of the foreigners received on the territory, in particular in the “rural areas, which are losing population”and or “we will have to close classes, probably schools and colleges”.
In these regions, “the conditions for their reception will be much better than if we put them in areas that are already densely populated, with a concentration of massive economic and social problems”he argued, also referring to a policy “faster learning of French, investment in vocational training”.
“Changing the Rules”
At the same time, Emmanuel Macron promised to “improve the effectiveness of deportation policies” at the border for foreigners in an illegal situation.
In particular, he mentioned the need to make the granting of visas more conditional on “the spirit of cooperation to take back foreigners in an irregular situation, starting with those who disturb public order”.
During his recent trip to Algeria, Emmanuel Macron thus paved the way, with his counterpart Abdelmajid Tebboune, for a relaxation of the visa regime granted to this country, in exchange for increased cooperation from Algiers in the fight against illegal immigration.