French Lawmakers Approve Tough Immigration Restraints

By Aussiegirl

France has decided to stop being immobilized by PC and white guilt, and attack its immigration problem with several excellent policy changes. Why can't we follow France's example and do the same here? (When did we ever think we would find ourselves saying this?!)

WORLD IN BRIEF

WORLD IN BRIEF
Thursday, May 18, 2006

French Lawmakers Approve Tough Immigration Restraints

PARIS -- France's lower house of Parliament approved a tough new immigration bill Wednesday that would allow the country to selectively choose which foreigners can live and work here and require that they learn the French language.

The bill, which passed the National Assembly by a vote of 367 to 164 after 54 hours of debate, was a reaction to rising complaints that the country's problems are being caused by immigrants. It was drafted by Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy and is vital to his plans to run for president next year, political analysts say. The Senate will debate the bill next month.

The measure would dramatically change several long-standing French immigration policies. It would make it easier for the country to screen out low-income, poorly educated immigrants in favor of highly skilled workers; it would tighten restrictions under which immigrant workers can bring their families to France; and it would abolish the right of illegal immigrants to receive residency papers after living in France for 10 years.

The bill has been harshly attacked by human rights groups, labor unions and leftist politicians, as well as French Muslim and Christian leaders.

-- John Ward Anderson