France Launches Visa Clampdown on These Countries
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France has announced a targeted reduction in the number of visas granted to people from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, amid a diplomatic dispute with the Maghreb countries over what France calls “illegal immigrants” on its soil.
Government spokesperson Gabriel Attal told Europe 1 radio, “It’s a drastic decision, and unprecedented, but one made necessary by the fact that these countries are refusing to take back nationals who we do not want or cannot keep in France.”
On his visit to the three African countries last year, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin presented a list of 230 foreigners that France wishes to expel. Darmanin said these “illegal” nationals are in an irregular situation, also suspected of “radicalization.”
However, Algerian authorities dismissed the claim, saying that the list includes names of citizens born in France, but of Algerian origin thus, insisting it is not an issue of illegal migration.
Moreover, the three Maghreb countries are refusing the issuance of the consular licenses necessary to forcibly expel these individual back to their home countries.
Consular pass is needed after visa requests are denied.
In the case of Algeria, more than 7000 visa request have been denied in the first six months of 2021, however only 22 nationals have received consular license and have been sent back to Algeria.
French President Emanuel Macron has ordered the number of Algerian and Moroccan visas to be sharply reduced by 50 percent compared to 2020.
He has also reduced more than 31,500 visas for Algerians for the second six months of the year while the number of visas delivered to Tunisia has also been reduced by a third.
French president has called on the European Union to reform the Schengen Zone visa. Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel supported the request at a European leaders meeting.
France is also planning to strengthen its border controls to curb clandestine immigration, by doubling police on its borders.
Immigration has become a contentious issue for the French presidential election set for April next year, with right-wing and far-right parties challenging centrist President Emmanuel Macron’s policies. Macron has not yet said whether he will stand for re-election.
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen said on Monday she would call a referendum proposing drastic limits on immigration if she is elected president next year.
Le Pen said the referendum would propose strict criteria for entering French territory and for acquiring French nationality.
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