Outcry in France over proposed immigration quotas

The French president’s call for immigration quotas has angered human rights groups. The proposal, made in a live interview on national television, has been judged scandalous and unacceptable by critics.

Nicolas Sarkozy said he wanted a parliamentary debate every year, resulting in the fixing of a quota of foreign immigrants France was prepared to welcome onto its territory. “Within this upper limit, I want us to examine the idea of a quota by profession, by category and, naturally, by regions of the world,” he went on.

The head of state also defended an immigration bill just adopted by the lower house of parliament. It does not involve quotas but tightens rules for would-be immigrants wanting to join relatives already in France. Still needing Senate approval, it controversially introduces voluntary DNA testing to prove family ties. The new rules also involve evaluating potential immigrants’ knowledge of the French language.

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