The French government on March 31 unveiled a bill to tighten up its immigration laws and impose stricter punishments on anyone caught employing foreigners without work permits.
This is the sixth time since 2002 that France has bolstered its immigration laws and comes after President Nicolas Sarkozy launched a debate on the country’s national identity to define the French character. He also set a target of expelling 30,000 illegal immigrants from the country this year.
Among the measures included in the bill, which was presented to the cabinet by Immigration Minister Eric Besson, was a move to increase the time illegal immigrants can be held in detention from 32 days to 45, after which the authorities have to make a decision on whether to expel them or undertake further investigations.
Also, under the proposed law, anyone caught employing illegal immigrants will face up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of 15,000 Euros (20,140 USD).
France is home to Europe’s largest Muslim population and the government has been particularly concerned over whether Islam is compatible with the country’s secularist model./.
This is the sixth time since 2002 that France has bolstered its immigration laws and comes after President Nicolas Sarkozy launched a debate on the country’s national identity to define the French character. He also set a target of expelling 30,000 illegal immigrants from the country this year.
Among the measures included in the bill, which was presented to the cabinet by Immigration Minister Eric Besson, was a move to increase the time illegal immigrants can be held in detention from 32 days to 45, after which the authorities have to make a decision on whether to expel them or undertake further investigations.
Also, under the proposed law, anyone caught employing illegal immigrants will face up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of 15,000 Euros (20,140 USD).
France is home to Europe’s largest Muslim population and the government has been particularly concerned over whether Islam is compatible with the country’s secularist model./.
