France Publishes "Official Text" of Foreigners' Deportation Law

The government of French President Emmanuel Macron published the official text of the new immigration law in the official journal on Saturday, and provided the first instructions to officials on its implementation. Macron called on Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin to do "everything in his power" to "implement the immigration law as quickly as possible." The French Constitutional Council had rejected large parts of the immigration law on Thursday, particularly measures that were approved under pressure from the right in December. A month after its approval in parliament on December 19, the nine members of the council responsible for determining the constitutionality of laws rejected the majority of the measures that had sparked significant criticism and protests, notably the reduction of benefits for non-European foreigners, the establishment of annual immigration quotas, and tightening conditions for family reunification. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin stated on X (formerly Twitter), "The Constitutional Council approves the government's text in full," adding that the executive branch took note of "the rejection of many provisions added by parliament for not adhering to established parliamentary procedures." The executive anticipated this rejection, as several provisions in the text, as acknowledged by Darmanin himself, are "clearly in violation of the constitution." Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right National Rally, condemned the "coup by judges supported by the president," considering that "the immigration law was born dead." He called for a referendum on immigration.