French Interior Minister Tightens Immigration Controls, Urges Stricter Enforcement

"This morning (Monday, October 4) I gathered the prefects at the Ministry of the Interior to give them the government’s guidelines on the implementation of the law strengthening the principles of the Republic and the fight against illegal immigration," the minister wrote on his Twitter page. On this occasion, Gérald Darmanin called on the prefects of the departments to apply the text more, to show firmness in the control of associations, the closure of schools and places of worship in case of suspicion of opposition to the Republic, reports LCI.

Addressing the immigration aspect, the minister called on the prefects of the departments to more closely monitor foreigners in an irregular situation registered in the FSPRT (file of reports for the prevention of radicalization with a terrorist character) or committing disturbances to public order, to refuse or withdraw residence permits from them. According to him, there would be 1,000 of these illegal foreigners who are causing public order disturbances. Among them, 454 have already been expelled. "Immigration is an issue that concerns our citizens," Gérald Darmanin said on Europe 1. We are particularly expected. This issue is a major challenge for the next presidential election."

Last week, France announced that it wants to reduce by 50% the granting of visas for Moroccans and Algerians and by 30% for Tunisians on the grounds that these three countries refuse to issue the consular laissez-passer necessary for the return of their nationals rejected from France.