The French parliament has approved legislation enforcing stricter immigration rules, creating hurdles for Nigerian students and other immigrants intending to bring their families into the country.
This development comes in the wake of a similar move by the British government, placing restrictions on Nigerian students and students from other nationalities studying in the United Kingdom from bringing their families over.
As reported by the BBC, the newly passed law received support from President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist Renaissance party and Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally. A revised version of the bill was presented after its initial rejection last week, making certain provisions more stringent.
Key highlights of the immigration policy include making it more challenging for migrants to reunite with their families in France and delaying access to welfare benefits. Additionally, a contentious provision discriminates between citizens and migrants, even those legally residing in the country, affecting their eligibility for benefits.
Although the tougher version of the bill found favour with right-wing parties, it faced opposition from left-wing groups, accusing President Macron of enabling the far-right.
Notably, the French vote preceded an EU agreement to reform the asylum system across the bloc, which includes initiatives such as establishing border detention centres and expediting the deportation of rejected asylum seekers.
However, divisions within the governing alliance surfaced during the French legislation passage, with nearly a quarter of pro-Macron MPs abstaining or voting against the bill. This internal divide led to resignations, including Health Minister Aurélien Rousseau, who stepped down in protest at certain measures in the immigration law.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, the UK Government announced restrictions earlier in May 2023 affecting Nigerian students and others studying in the UK. These restrictions prevent certain categories of students from bringing their families over, citing concerns over rising net migration.
Additionally, Canada recently unveiled changes in requirements for international students, mandating increased proof of funds totaling $20,000, more than double the previous requirement. While this poses challenges, the government extended the waiver on the 20-hour per week work cap for international students until April 30, 2024, offering relief to those already present or with pending study permit applications as of December 7th, 2023.
