French Interior Minister Gérard Collomb
The Interior Minister stressed that he does not set a goal of deporting a specific number of migrants, but at the same time cited data showing an increase in the number of migrants in France. According to him, 'last year 100,000 asylum applications were filed, which is 7% more than the previous year, in which there were already 23% more such applications than in the preceding period'.
The interview also says that since 2012, the number of places in reception centers for migrants has doubled, as has the number of centers themselves, with each center 'costing two billion euros'. Thus, the minister concludes, 'we are forced to carry out selection because we are not able to ensure a future for everyone'.
Gérard Collomb proposes granting asylum to political refugees, not to representatives of economic emigration. In particular, in January 2018, 295 more migrants were deported to their countries of origin than in January 2017.
The minister cited the situation in Germany as an example, saying that non-compliance with the law leads to 'the growth of extremist sentiments' in society and that, as a result, 92 deputies from the far-right party were elected in Germany.
As reported by RFI, on February 21, the French Council of Ministers will be presented with a law on migrants and refugees, which provides for an increase to 90 days (in some cases up to 135) of the period for reviewing migrant cases, as well as a reduction in the time for filing an appeal.
In early January, French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe met with representatives of about thirty human rights associations on the issue of the new bill 'Immigration and Asylum'. Human rights activists then accused the authorities of intending to 'sort' migrants.