The France Fraternités association expresses its “distrust” and its “reserve”

The new Prime Minister Michel Barnier is considering the return of a Ministry of Immigration, according to information from franceinfo.

“My first reaction is distrust”reacted Monday September 9 on franceinfo Pierre Henry, president of the France Fraternités association, while according to information from franceinfo, the new Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, is considering the return of a Ministry of Immigration.

“I receive this information with extreme caution”explains Pierre Henry. “We all have 2007 in mind”recalls the president of France Fraternités, referring to the previous Ministry of Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Solidarity Development, created in 2007 under the Fillon government, during the presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy. It had been headed by Brice Hortefeux then Éric Besson, before being abolished in 2010.

Pierre Henry“surprised by this return”. “The real question is what for?asks the association manager. How will the administration of the Ministry of the Interior, which has taken over all functions relating to the issue of immigration since 2010, be dismantled, and to implement what policy?” Pierre Henry shares his “worry” while “Many people are wondering whether the policy led by Mr Barnier is compatible with the RN”. “The concern is there because Mr. Barnier’s program in 2021, when he ran for president within the LR, was very clear: ‘we must put an end to unconditional regularizations,’ he said, ‘we must eliminate AME, we must restrict family reunification’.”

The president of France Fraternités remains on his “reserve” and wonders about “the policy that we want to pursue” Michel Barnier and the “content” from the Ministry of Immigration. “Do we want to restore a genuine public service for foreigners in the prefectures that provide access to foreigners in a regular situation who are currently unable, for a large number of them, to renew their residence permit? Do we want to provide legal assistance throughout the country to asylum seekers who need it? Do we want to fight against traffickers, secure the external borders of the European Union, work on developing legal migration routes?”

But Pierre Henry notes that currently, ““Given the current policy, given the general climate in Europe, what we are certain of is that immigration serves, unfortunately, as a political marker for the present years and the years to come”. He only sees one “succession of proposals emanating from populist currents”. “You will understand that I am extremely reserved.”adds the president of France Fraternités.