French Parliament Passes Law Restricting Family Reunion for Migrants
The French parliament has approved legislation that bars Nigerian students and others from bringing their families to France. The measure gained support from President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist Renaissance party and Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally after a revised version was passed.
The revised immigration policy aims to tighten controls on family reunions, limit migrants’ access to welfare benefits, and prohibit the detention of minors in detention centers. However, leaders from a third of France’s regions have expressed their refusal to implement certain key legislative measures.
One controversial aspect of the law is its differentiation between citizens and migrants, including those legally residing in France, regarding eligibility for benefits. The tougher version of the bill received backing from right-wing parties, leading to its recent approval.
Marine Le Pen celebrated the revised measure as an “ideological victory” for the far-right, while Eric Ciotti, leader of the right-wing Republican Party, hailed it as “firm and courageous.”
Critics from the left accused Macron of aligning with the far-right. Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure warned of the historical repercussions for those who betrayed their convictions.
Source: Daily Trust
