National Assembly accepts Asylum and Immigration Law
Controversial bill aims to double detention period and speed up deportations, promises better integration services, and backtracks on ‘crimes of solidarity,’ opening up divisions between the left, right and within Macron’s LREM party.
Following 7 days of debate and deliberation, in what has been described as an “endless trench warfare”, the National Assembly has accepted the draft asylum and immigration law. The most controversial of these new measures is the doubling of the maximum detention period from 45 days to 90 days, which was adopted by 77 votes to 31 with 46 abstentions.
On the other side of the coin, the Assembly has voted on exemptions to the “crime of solidarity”, where:
- “the act complained of was to provide advice and support, including legal, linguistic or social, or catering, accommodation or medical care, intended to ensure dignified living conditions and decent abroad”
- “any other assistance designed to preserve the dignity or physical integrity of the exemption , or any transportation directly related to one of these exceptions, unless the act has given rise to a direct consideration or indirect or has been accomplished for profit”
Interior Minister Gerard Collomb says that he will set “stricter” boundaries for what the crime entails.
Collomb said the bill aims for “better controlled” immigration, while making it easier to deport “economic” migrants.
The bill also plans to “ease bureaucracy” by halving the time to six months it takes to process asylum requests. It would also cut in half to 90 days the time asylum seekers have to apply and reduces to two weeks the time allowed to appeal against decisions. NGOs said the changes would not provide enough time for applicants to put forward more evidence to support their applications.
It also introduces a one year prison sentence for entering France illegally, or a fine of up to 3,750 euros.
Yann Manzi, founder of Utopia 56, argues that the new law will make the situation even worse for people trying to seek asylum in France: “It’s really frightening. We don’t know anymore what to tell the migrants. This new law will make it easier for the government to throw them out. France is setting up a downright deportation machine to send people back home.”
Supporters of the bill argue that it promotes integration by promising accepted asylum seekers better access to work and housing opportunities as well as French lessons. The measure would also facilitate family reunification of accepted asylum seekers.
The Bill opened up divisions between the left and right, aswell as among Macron’s LREM party. For example, where the left unanimously criticised the doubling of the detention period from 45 days to 90 days, the right wanted it increased to 180 days. A deputy within Macron’s LREM party resigned after casting a no vote, and 14 other politicians abstained.
The Bill ultimately passed with 228 in favor, 139 against and 24 abstentions. It still has to go through the Senate, although the Senate is generally known for being more conservative than the National Assembly.
Time will tell.
Written by Chris Afuakwah
