I don't see anything wrong with the law requiring proof of an effort to integrate into French society and learn the language. I personally think it is ridiculous that some people live for ten years in a country and refuse to learn the national / majority language!
I also don't see how it discriminates against the poor, other than if one thinks that France should allow people into the country (who do not qualify for asylum) simply to have them languish there. One can be 'poor' but show you have a job as a janitor or laborer somewhere and therefore can support oneself. If on the other hand,a person entered the country with the notion of abusing the social welfare statutes in place, then one would have a problem. The article didn't go into the details of the laws, however. http://tinyurl.com/jwnlb [Immigrants must prove they are able to support themselves and show they are making an effort to integrate. Newcomers would be forced to take French lessons. France's parliament started to debate a divisive immigration law on Tuesday supported by Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy with the aim of attracting skilled workers while keeping less skilled ones out. Immigrant groups and left-wing opposition parties say it discriminates against the poor and accuse Sarkozy of seeking to win voters on the far right ahead of a presidential poll next year in which he is expected to run. Here are five facts about the proposed law: The law would make it easier for qualified foreigners to stay in France for three years under a so-called "skills and talents" visa for those thought to be capable of contributing to economic development of France. The law would make it harder for family members to join a relative in France by lengthening the time before they follow from one year to 18 months after the person's arrival. Immigrants must prove they are able to support themselves and show they are making an effort to integrate. Newcomers would be forced to take French lessons. The law aims to crack down on marriages of convenience by extending from two years to four years the duration of the marriage before French nationality can be granted. The length of stay needed before a residency permit is issued would be increased from two to three years and this could be withdrawn if the couple stops living together. The law would scrap a measure that allows immigrants who have been living in France for 10 years the automatic right to apply for a long-term residency permit. Local authorities would make the decision on a case by case basis. According to a poll in the Liberation daily paper on Tuesday, 46 percent of French people believe immigration is an asset for France and 48 percent believe immigrants should be chosen according to economic needs.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:206096 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
