PARIS,
October 10 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - French advocacy and
immigrants' rights groups opened fire on a new bill imposing tight
restrictions on illegal immigrants.
The
bill was tabled by Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy who managed to
convince the Senate members of it Thursday, October 9, after an
initial reading by the National Assembly one month earlier, according
to French daily Le Monde.
But
groups concerned about the rights of immigrants lashed out at the
bill, describing it as "foolish", as it imposes punitive
measures against immigrants already threatened with expulsion from the
whole country.
The
bill, putting 3,750 euros on unlicensed foreign workers, also hit a
nerve with Minister of Social Affairs, Labor and Solidarity Francois
Fillon, and Parliament members.
The
bill is a threatening retraction of the rights of foreigners, and
shows only concern about France's security in the short run, said a
MP.
Much
to Sarkozy's dismay, 300 amendments were presented on the bill, and
hundreds of immigrants with no official paperwork took to streets in
July to protest it over, the daily reported.
The
amendments include changing the double punishment term, as it excludes
foreigners born in France or staying in 13 years, or ten years if they
have families, from deportation.
On
Defensive
According
to Le Monde, Sarkozy told the Senate that the bill bears no
hostility for the foreigners or a violation of human rights, "but
rather based on France's right to pick up those staying on its
soil".
"We
have to take all measures necessary to prevent illegal and secret
immigration," he retorted, noting that a half of the immigrants
in the European country crossed the borders by a tourist visa.
"Upon
getting into, they cut off their passport, making it difficult for
their deportation with no definite homeland," he added.
Administrative
Detention
The
bill extends the maximum of administrative detention from 12 days to
32, and setting up a national commission to have a watchful eye on the
administrative detention centers.
It
also tightens measures against anyone helping get or transfer illegal
immigrants, but says prior convictions does not prevent individuals
from having been issued with the French nationality.
But
terrorist acts would be a cause for withdrawing the French
nationality, it says.
Sarkozy,
whose family had migrated to France from Hungary. He had ordered the
deportation of 6,000 illegal immigrants since 2003.
The
senate's meeting on the bill came a few days after leftist groups,
including Revolutionary Communist League, opposed a bill banning hijab
in schools.
