“We come to France to study and return home,” say foreign students, relieved of the censorship of certain measures

Among the measures removed by the Constitutional Council, there are those concerning foreign students, such as the idea of ​​a compulsory financial deposit. It was particularly feared by some of the 400,000 foreign students currently in France.

“Satisfaction“for the government,”democratic hold-up“for the LR… The Constitutional Council very widely censored the immigration law on Thursday January 25, a decision highly contested on the right but satisfactory for the government which is preparing to promulgate the text”in the next few hours“to apply the first measures”from this weekend“. Of the 86 articles of the text, 35 were totally or partially rejected by the Sages. Most of these measures were adopted in December under pressure from the right and with the support of the extreme right.

Among the measures removed, those concerning foreign students, the compulsory increase in registration fees, the need to justify each year the “real and serious nature” of one’s training or even the idea of ​​a compulsory financial guarantee. The abandonment of this last point is widely welcomed among the young people concerned met at the Cité Internationale Universitaire in Paris, where 12,000 students of 150 nationalities mingle.

“Foreign students already have a lot of difficulty preparing their study plans in France”

Juan, a Colombian with a master’s degree in fundamental physics, does not hide his relief. At home, studies are unaffordable and he took a very dim view of the idea of ​​this return deposit. “If there had been a deposit, it would have been more difficult because it is very expensive to change currencies between the two countries.“, he describes.

“Obviously, it’s a good thing that it didn’t happen in the end.”

Same story with this student from Togo in a master’s degree in agricultural development. Coming to France, with the current conditions, already requires a long preparation. In certain cases, France requires a minimum of resources: it had to raise 7,000 euros. “Foreign students already have a lot of difficulty preparing their study plans in France. I worked for two years. After the two years, I was able to raise the amount I needed. We don’t come here as immigrants, we come as foreign students to study and return home, that’s clear.”he concludes.

Many of the students they met say they were shocked by the development of this law, contrary to the image of openness and welcome they have of France. This is the case of Mariana, a doctoral student from Brazil, for whom the mixture of nationalities is “A wealth” : “There are people from all countries. This atmosphere with many cultures is very interesting. We are a people who will collaborate with France too.” The young woman insists on the benefits, for all countries, of student mobility.