Thousands of people, including many undocumented migrants, marched through Paris and other French cities. To protest planned changes to immigration law and evictions from the Indian Ocean island of Mayotte. Protesters marched under the banner “No to the Darmanin law.” “Against repression, imprisonment, and deportation, and in favour of a welcoming migration policy,” said Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.
Reaction to the New Bill
Protesters called the immigration measure, which the government has recently postponed until the autumn, a “racist law. Which aims to criminalize foreigners” and lead to “more deportations.” The law, dubbed “Controlling Immigration While Improving Integration,” seeks to expand the scope of deportation, particularly for foreigners who commit crimes. It also requires a minimum level of French before granting a multi-year residence permit. Allows for mandatory fingerprinting, and tightens standards for long-term visa renewal.
Exploitation and Rogue Bosses
Aboubacar, an undocumented Malian aged 31, who participated in the protest. Voiced his views, saying “The problem is not immigration, its exploitation and rogue bosses.” He further added that he and his colleagues, who are sub-contracted workers for the post office, have been striving for the past 17 months. To acquire their official documentation to reside and work legally in France.
Operation Wuambushi
The demonstrators also targeted Operation Wuambushi (Take Back), which the authorities are conducting on the French Indian Ocean Island of Mayotte. To repatriate illegal immigrants, mostly from neighboring Comoros, who are currently living in unsanitary shanty towns. According to Marie-Christine Vergiat, vice-president of the French Human Rights League and a former member of the European Parliament, “The treatment of undocumented Comorans is not worthy of a country like France.” Said Mhamadi, a civil leader from Comoros, who spoke in the southern port city of Marseille, where up to 300 people protested. Suggested that the Darmanin bill and the operation in Mayotte we interconnected.
Nationwide Demonstrations
Protests staged across France, with over 1,500 people coming to the streets in Rennes, northwest France, yelling “down with the police state.” Up to 300 people demonstrated in Marseille, while hundreds marched in Paris behind the slogan “No to the Darmanin law.” Theodore Sobezy, 32, told AFP that he came to the protest “in solidarity with the Comoros. And to protest against France’s brutal measures in Mayotte. Which are very violent and there are other ways of dealing with it.”
Immigration Policy and Exploitation
The topic of immigration policy in Europe is a contentious issue that generates disagreement. Some people believe that policies aimed at restricting immigration only contribute to the ongoing exploitation and mistreatment of migrant workers. In France, the problem of exploitative employers and labor abuse has been particularly severe. Resulting in numerous undocumented workers living in poverty and constantly fearing deportation. The Darmanin bill and Operation Wuambushi have only heightened these tensions, with many individuals claiming that they are part of a broader effort to crack down on undocumented migrants and refugees. The situation on the island of Mayotte has also brought attention to the struggles faced by many undocumented workers across Europe. who often forced to endure deplorable living conditions. And constant anxiety about being deported.
The May Day protests in France reflect the growing dissatisfaction and rage of undocumented migrants and their sympathizers with the government’s immigration policies. Many people consider the Darmanin bill and the operation in Mayotte to be discriminatory and unjust policies. While the government claims that these policies are necessary to control immigration and improve integration, protesters believe that they will only result in increased criminalization and deportation of immigrants.
