French government cracks down on illegal migration with new citizenship and relocation policies

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has recently implemented stricter immigration laws, tightening the regulations for the legalisation of immigrants, and revising the framework established by his predecessor Manuel Valls in 2012.

These changes come amid rising political pressure on migration issues in France.

Retailleau, known for his tough stance on immigration, emphasized that it is essential to end policies that incentivize illegal migration, Caliber.Az reports referring to foreign media.

Speaking at a press conference in Versailles, the minister made it clear that the French public demands greater control over immigration, stating, "The French expect order, and I intend to guarantee it to them."

One of the most significant revisions involves the so-called “law of the land,” which governs the process by which children born in France can apply for French citizenship. Under the new rules, foreign parents seeking French citizenship for their children must have legally resided in France for at least one year. This change makes it more difficult for non-EU migrants to secure citizenship for their children born on French soil, reinforcing a more restrictive approach to naturalization.

Earlier, the French government undertook a large-scale operation to relocate thousands of migrants in Paris ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics. A report from the public organization coalition Le Revers de la Medaille revealed that over 19,500 individuals living in tent camps and shelters were forcibly relocated from the capital.

Authorities conducted what some critics called a “social cleansing,” removing vulnerable populations from high-visibility areas near Olympic venues to “clean up” the city before the Games. The relocation primarily affected migrants, refugees, and those without housing.

Of the displaced individuals, 4,500 were minors, and many were relocated multiple times, suggesting the figure may be an underestimation. The operation has sparked backlash from human rights groups who accuse the government of exacerbating the challenges faced by the country’s most vulnerable populations in the name of preparing for the Olympic Games.

By Tamilla Hasanova