Regularized foreigners and undocumented immigrants expressed their anger on Saturday December 14 during a demonstration in Paris. Supported by unions and associations, they demand better processing of their regularization requests and fear for their future in France. Because the resigning French government had initiated a reform aimed at reducing the number of regularizations. And despite the departure of its executive, many prefectures followed the minister’s instructions.
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“ Full rights card for immigrant workers “, ” No future without immigration “, ” Stop the OQTFs! Open the counters “, ” immigration lawsthat’s enough! » proclaimed the signs in the procession which left Place de Clichy towards Place de la République. Hundreds of demonstrators brandished signs and chanted slogans. They all send the same message to the government: they want their regularization to work in better conditions.
Collectives of unaccompanied foreign minors were at the head of the demonstration, they are currently occupying the Gaité Lyrique, a Parisian cultural venue, to demand accommodation from Paris town hall. They are followed by collectives of undocumented workers, under numerous CGT flags and at the end of the procession, Palestinian flags.
Around twenty organizations, including the Human Rights League (LDH), Amnesty International, the magistrates’ union, Oxfam, Emmaüs, Médecins du monde, Attac, Cimade, Utopia 56, SOS Racisme, the CGT and the Movement against racism and for friendship between peoples (Mrap) called for this demonstration in a joint declaration entitled “ Born here or from elsewhere “. Among them, Christiane, an undocumented employee in France for three years: “ Work when you are undocumented is honestly so painful. There are some who experience very difficult situations with employers. Some suffer abuse from bosses. »
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“ An undocumented migrant lives in fear »
Out of fear, she prefers not to say more. But Mamadou knows these abuses well: although he was regularized a long time ago, the trade unionist has not forgotten the reality of a profession without a residence permit. “ An undocumented migrant lives in fear, he accepts everything that others do not accept. Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, times that no one wants. And if you speak out, we’ll fire you. And if you have a family to feed, rent to pay, you will be forced to shut up and work “, he confided.
THE Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau had initiated the reform of the circular Manuel Valls. In force since 2012, the document made it possible to satisfy nearly 30,000 regularization procedures per year. If the executive will change in the coming days, the prefectures in charge of the requests did not wait and followed the government’s instructions, by scaling back. Especially since the appointment of François Bayrou to Matignon could mean the continuation of this migration policy.
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THE ” regularized » also affected
And now, the problem also affects people in a regular situation. “ Legally resident foreigners are now having great difficulty renewing their titles. Enough of these repressive migration policies, we demand equal rights for all, housing, work, school “, Cybèle David, of Union Syndicale Solidaire, told AFP.
To avoid this kind of scenario, Pascal helps migrants with their procedures. But nothing helps, he denounces a blockage in the public administration: “ In Essonne, the prefecture has been completely closed for three months, no files, no admission files, no renewal files. »
Already last year, undocumented immigrants gathered in front of the Essonne prefecture to protest against processing times. New mobilizations will take place throughout France during International Migrants Day, Wednesday December 16.
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