French Interior Minister Proposes Stricter Family Reunification Laws

Heard on Tuesday by the Senate Law Commission, Gérald Darmanin stated that the government is "in favor" of amendments to the immigration bill to introduce measures to limit family reunification. The text presented in the Council of Ministers on February 1 and which should be examined by the Senate at the end of March does not provide for any provision on the subject, recalls the Minister of the Interior who assures having "heard many senators [...] propose restrictions".

"I would be in favor [...] of provisions that could limit family reunification without being contrary to the Constitution," supported Darmanin, explaining that one of the restrictions could consist in reviewing the reception conditions (size of housing, income, length of presence on the territory...) required of foreigners who wish to bring their family to France.

The Minister of the Interior also wishes to restrict "family reunification" to which refugees have a right to the strict family unit. "When we grant asylum to someone, that we grant it to his family, that does not seem shocking to me. But should we grant it to his family in the broad sense? ", he wondered, noting that there are "abuses, undoubtedly". Gérald Darmanin also indicated that he is in favor of imposing language tests and "values of the Republic" on family members applying for a family reunification visa.

These measures, if adopted, would contribute to "limiting for the first time in French law" family reunification, indicates the entourage of the minister. According to official data, 33,735 first residence permits for family reunification or family reunification were issued by France in 2022.