France: no mass legalizing of immigrants

[GaryC 7]

PARIS - France's new immigration minister ruled out the possibility of legalizing undocumented immigrants on masse, saying Monday that government policy would be firm and pragmatic.

Brice Hortefeux heads the Ministry of Immigration and National Identity — newly created by President Nicolas Sarkozy to manage the inflow of immigrants and protect French values and cohesion.

"We have to put aside massive legalization. It doesn't work and it penalizes, even immigrants," Hortefeux said on Europe 1 radio. Policy, he added, would be guided by "firmness and humanism" with "lots of pragmatism."

He said he planned to adhere to the policy of deporting illegal immigrants from France. The number of deportees was expected to reach some 25,000 this year, and Hortefeux said he would ensure that figure was reached.

The conservative Sarkozy, elected president May 6, had reached out to the anti-immigration far-right to capture votes, rankling some of his own allies by creating the new immigration ministry. Critics have said the government should not mix immigration with national identity.

Hortefeux said he would meet shortly with officials from the hotel and restaurant industries, which rely heavily on immigrants.

Hortefeux also said he would not question a long-standing policy of "family grouping," which allows immigrants in France to bring their families here. But he indicated, as Sarkozy has, that the policy may be modified to ensure the integration of those who join relatives in France.

"It must be carried out in respect for the dignity of those who want to come and (in a way) that favors their integration," he said.

Sarkozy has said he wants to ensure that those who join families in France can speak French and that relatives can support the newcomers.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070521/ap_on_...nce_immigration

[hmm1 0]

PARIS - France's new immigration minister ruled out the possibility of legalizing undocumented immigrants on masse, saying Monday that government policy would be firm and pragmatic.

Brice Hortefeux heads the Ministry of Immigration and National Identity — newly created by President Nicolas Sarkozy to manage the inflow of immigrants and protect French values and cohesion.

"We have to put aside massive legalization. It doesn't work and it penalizes, even immigrants," Hortefeux said on Europe 1 radio. Policy, he added, would be guided by "firmness and humanism" with "lots of pragmatism."

He said he planned to adhere to the policy of deporting illegal immigrants from France. The number of deportees was expected to reach some 25,000 this year, and Hortefeux said he would ensure that figure was reached.

The conservative Sarkozy, elected president May 6, had reached out to the anti-immigration far-right to capture votes, rankling some of his own allies by creating the new immigration ministry. Critics have said the government should not mix immigration with national identity.

Hortefeux said he would meet shortly with officials from the hotel and restaurant industries, which rely heavily on immigrants.

Hortefeux also said he would not question a long-standing policy of "family grouping," which allows immigrants in France to bring their families here. But he indicated, as Sarkozy has, that the policy may be modified to ensure the integration of those who join relatives in France.

"It must be carried out in respect for the dignity of those who want to come and (in a way) that favors their integration," he said.

Sarkozy has said he wants to ensure that those who join families in France can speak French and that relatives can support the newcomers.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070521/ap_on_...nce_immigration

Too bad that our government officials aren't more like this...no mass legalization...

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

PARIS - France's new immigration minister ruled out the possibility of legalizing undocumented immigrants on masse, saying Monday that government policy would be firm and pragmatic.

Brice Hortefeux heads the Ministry of Immigration and National Identity — newly created by President Nicolas Sarkozy to manage the inflow of immigrants and protect French values and cohesion.

"We have to put aside massive legalization. It doesn't work and it penalizes, even immigrants," Hortefeux said on Europe 1 radio. Policy, he added, would be guided by "firmness and humanism" with "lots of pragmatism."

He said he planned to adhere to the policy of deporting illegal immigrants from France. The number of deportees was expected to reach some 25,000 this year, and Hortefeux said he would ensure that figure was reached.

The conservative Sarkozy, elected president May 6, had reached out to the anti-immigration far-right to capture votes, rankling some of his own allies by creating the new immigration ministry. Critics have said the government should not mix immigration with national identity.

Hortefeux said he would meet shortly with officials from the hotel and restaurant industries, which rely heavily on immigrants.

Hortefeux also said he would not question a long-standing policy of "family grouping," which allows immigrants in France to bring their families here. But he indicated, as Sarkozy has, that the policy may be modified to ensure the integration of those who join relatives in France.

"It must be carried out in respect for the dignity of those who want to come and (in a way) that favors their integration," he said.

Sarkozy has said he wants to ensure that those who join families in France can speak French and that relatives can support the newcomers.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070521/ap_on_...nce_immigration

Too bad that our government officials aren't more like this...no mass legalization...

I am not all too familiar with this new French President but what I read here makes a lot of sense to me.

[Ban Hammer 13,625]

I am not all too familiar with this new French President but what I read here makes a lot of sense to me.

scary ain't it? the french government is making sense!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

A Ministry of "National Identity". Slightly ominous-sounding name.

[sereia 0]

too bad we won't ever do that here........

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

A Ministry of "National Identity". Slightly ominous-sounding name.

It does sound a bit odd. But seeing the problems Europe has on the integration of immigrants front, I can somewhat appreciate the title. Watch the populations in other Western European countries demand similar steps.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

A Ministry of "National Identity". Slightly ominous-sounding name.

It does sound a bit odd. But seeing the problems Europe has on the integration of immigrants front, I can somewhat appreciate the title. Watch the populations in other Western European countries demand similar steps.

France has always been more nationalistic in that respect.

They do have a larger immigrant problem than a lot of other European countries.

[rebeccajo 14]

Just seems weird to me these nations join the EU but don't want anything to do with each others citizens.

[sereia 0]

well no one wants to move to romania, slovakia, poland, etc... but everyone else wants to move to the uk and france! imagine if they let turkey in? lol

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Just seems weird to me these nations join the EU but don't want anything to do with each others citizens.

Most of the problems with the EU stem from disagreements over what the purpose of the organization is – whether it’s a loose association of member countries or whether we’re slowly moving towards a United States of Europe (with France at the lead)

I know in Britain, there was a lot of opposition to “things European” over a number of issues because people were suspicious of giving away elements of national sovereignty and losing control over - the economy, for example. That’s partly the reason UK still does not sign up to the single currency, although it would kind of make sense to do so in the long-run.

The single-currency has been a hot-potato in recent years - and I think Europe was one reason the Conservatives lost one of the general elections. It doesn't help that the politicians give out mixed signals about the issues. Brown says no on "economic grounds", the Conservatives (when they were under Iain Duncan-Smith) said no on "constitutional grounds".

[homesick_american 1]

I guess people find it surprising that French people can be xenophobic and racist, but they just assume that Americans are...particularly if they're against amnesty.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Just seems weird to me these nations join the EU but don't want anything to do with each others citizens.

I think when they speak of immigrnts, they mainly refer to non-EU citizens.

[homesick_american 1]

well no one wants to move to romania, slovakia, poland, etc... but everyone else wants to move to the uk and france! imagine if they let turkey in? lol

Plenty of people want to move to Poland, i.e. people from Belarus and Ukraine. :blink:

[mawilson 2,133]

well no one wants to move to romania, slovakia, poland, etc... but everyone else wants to move to the uk and france! imagine if they let turkey in? lol

Why not? I'd rather move to Poland or Slovakia than France. Eastern Europe is really

not as bad as you think.