Merle’s Weblog

 Our speech in the SF will concentrate on several different aspects concerning the processes of migration or rather immigration in and to France.

In order to give you an idea of what our speech will be about we just present our structure:
•- Definition: Migration; Immigration
•- Basic historical information
•- Reasons for immigration
•- Official settlements
•- Being an Immigrant in France
•- Effects of Immigration
•- Sources

I worked on the parts “reasons for immigration”, “official regulations” and “Being an Immigrant in France”.

On balance, you can infer that about 11,9 % of the immigrants came to France in hope that they’ll find a job, from the diagram.. About 17,3% followed because of family reunification and 6,5 came because of humanitarian reasons. They main part stated that they immigrated because of ethic ties, health, retirement etc..   

After the Second World War predominantly men came to work in France. From 1974 family reunification and female immigration dominated.

Since the turn of the millennium the proportion of male and female immigrants has evened out.

In June 2006 the new Immigration Act especially focusing on the family reunion came into force. On the one hand the immigrants have to deal with a test concerning their knowledge of the French language, culture and the values of the Republic in their country of origine and on the other hand they have to proof that the in France living relative has financial means for familiy ( minimum: 1280 € per month ).

Contrary to Sarkozy’s requirements that a DNA test should mendatoried to proof the relationship of following family members the Act was attenuated. Now, the immigrants have the possibiliy to have a test voluntarily, paied by the French government. These tests are a advantage for them as it is faster than the bureaucratic way to get the permit of resistance.

Furthermore it’s just allowed to prove the relationship to the mother so that these tests can’t reveal illigimated children.

Another change of the act concerns the right to stay after having stayed in France for 10 years (also illegal) which was abolished right now.

Sarkozy also intensified the deportation. During the first five months of this year about 150000 foreigners without permit of resistance were deported which is about 80 % more than the last year.

In contrast to the hard regulations concerning deportation and the genereal immigration qualified students, workers and scientists from coutries, not being included in the EU, are allowed to stay in France for 3 years without any problems.

By this means, Sarkozy wants to attract the generation of qualified workers and defeats unqualified immigrants from Africa.

What does it mean to be an immigrant in France?

At first it’s important to know that most if the immigrants come from the Maghreb (former French colonies). They come to France in the hope to find work but they just get low-paied jobs in fabrics, at big plantations and for harvest. Moreover a lot of women have to prostitute themselves.

Although colonies are free, the colonial connections are still existing and colonial oppression and rasistic discrimination can still be found in the French society nowadays.

Immigrants in France have to deal with the so called „double peine“ meaning that they are punished harder for committing a crime than French people and afterwards they are deported.

There are even special laws declaring that youths in suburbs are not allowed to stay outside at a certain time in the evening and the polie it authorized to arrest them if they violate this law.

In the gaol for deported persons the immigrants have to deal with very bad conditions like overcrowding, hygienic grievances and bad treatment. Bedsheets and blanket are just changed each 4 months to save costs and the policemen use taser against the imprisoned people.

But the French government never tried to improve the immigrants’ situation causing a lot of resistance and  riots. On example are the youths who violated in Paris in 2005 by setting cars on fire etc. In the gaol for deported persons in Vincennes the imprisoned immigrants revolted and burned their mattresses resulting in burning down the whole complex of buildings.

All this riots especially in the banlieus are a form of their fight for dignity and rights characterizing the French history. But this is often ignored.

Anna’s parts are depicted in detail on her blog: http://an07na.wordpress.com/