On Monday, the French National Assembly rejected an immigration control and integration bill presented by the government. A preliminary rejection motion proffered by the National Assembly group Les Écologistes secured 270 votes in favor and 265 against, thus impeding the examination of the bill originally slated for Monday.
The bill in contention, introduced in February by the French Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, aimed to bolster deterrence measures against foreigners perceived as a threat to public order. The legislation also sought to penalize the exploitation of migrants and enhance border control while streamlining the regularization process for entry, residence, and deportation of undocumented migrants.
The bill faced stringent criticism nation-wide and internationally. les Défenseurs des droits, an independent French administrative body, warned that the objectives of the legislation may violate human rights significantly. Its spokesperson, Claire Hédon, drew attention to the manner and conditions of the bill’s introduction, highlighting the diminishing fundamental rights for foreigners. Analogously, Human Rights Watch expressed concerns in a report published in November about the risks the legislation posed to human rights.
Post the rejection vote; Darmanin reportedly proffered his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron, which was not accepted. Known for his anti-immigration stance, Darmanin had strong support for the bill since its initiation and expressed his continued commitment to fighting irregular immigration. He lamented that time was being wasted in protecting the French.
This immigration bill is not an anomaly, as other European nations have also enforced comparable measures to deter undocumented migrants and limit immigration. In response, the French government has established a joint commission composed of seven deputies and seven senators to achieve a consensus on the bill.
Check the comprehensive report from Jurist for more details.