WORLD WORLDWIDE EUROPE FRANCE - news journal UPDATE - (en) France, Monde Libertaire - IDEAS AND STRUGGLES: On Immigration in France followed by The Papers of Undocumented Immigrants (ca, de, fr, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

The Place of Immigrants ---- Patrick Weil is a recognized specialist on immigration in France, having served as chief of staff to the Secretary of State for Immigration, François Autain, from 1981 to 1982. His numerous works offer a reliable and objective overview, free from the hysterical debates surrounding the presence of immigrants in France. In his recent publication, *On Immigration in France*, he aims to debunk myths and misleading claims, beginning with the "great replacement" theory. ---- This is a book that should be in the hands of activists defending fundamental rights in our country. It is brimming with solid, data-driven, and legally sound arguments. What do we call immigrants? "All persons 'born abroad who live in France' are considered immigrants in France." And Patrick Weil distinguishes between an immigrant and a foreigner. Let us recall Camus's words: "To misname things is to add to the world's misfortunes. To not name them is to deny our humanity." And what about the battle of the numbers? There are projected to be 7.7 million immigrants in 2024, with an increase of 133,000 people per year-far from being overwhelmed. This figure varies by region and remains lower than that of other countries like Germany. The author

dismantles demagoguery and racism

by outlining regulations regarding entry into the European Union, the Schengen Agreements, the controls in place, and the role of Frontex. Faced with recurring calls from the right and far right to withdraw from Schengen, he points out that between 50,000 and 100,000 police officers would be needed. He lucidly addresses the shortcomings of the French administration, starting with the handling of Orders to Leave French Territory (OQTF). Considerable time is wasted in prefectural services overwhelmed by the digital administration for foreigners in France (ANEF), in courts besieged by litigation, and there is constant anxiety for undocumented immigrants, sometimes confined in detention centers rather than holding facilities. We should recall the books by Marianne Leloup-Dassonville, *France, Terre d'écueils* (Rue de l'échiquier, 2025) and Louise Tassin, *Comme on les enferme* (La Découverte, 2026), discussed in these pages
and on the program *Au fil des pages* on Radio Libertaire. The U-turns and the heavy-handed simplifications, stemming in particular from Nicolas Sarkorzin's policies, are essentially aimed at unsettling immigrants and further excluding them. We are witnessing a rudderless immigration policy pursued by hypocritical political leaders regarding the place of immigrants in the workforce.

The rejection of apartheid

Patrick Weil is tasked with formulating proposals within a national and European institutional framework, while also taking into account international conventions, particularly those governing relations between France and Algeria. The reader may sometimes be skeptical of certain proposed solutions, but they allow for a debate free from aggression and rejection. Developing the historical dimension serves as a reminder that the "great replacement" theory was already denounced by Maurice Barrès, a somewhat worn refrain. Hervé Le Bras points out, on this subject, a form of apartheid: "the descendants of immigrants and their own descendants are still considered part of the newcomer population." Obviously, the religious question requires analysis, emphasizing that the vast majority of Muslims are perfectly integrated; "they are proof that the French republican model works.[...]This secularism, properly understood and put into practice, can
unite us all." The reader will find in the book the major milestones of this specifically French legislation. To live better together, it is fundamental to know our history, to distinguish between the national narrative and the national myth. There is an urgent need to integrate slavery and colonization into school curricula. I would add the contributions of immigration to the economy and simply the fact that we are all mixed-race individuals, products of our past, to borrow the title of a book by Lucien Febvre.

* Patrick Weil,
*On Immigration in France
*, Grasset, 2026

https://monde-libertaire.net/?articlen=9135
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Source: A-infos-en@ainfos.ca