Retrospective on Sarah Verbosky, “Immigration in France: The Economics and Politics of a Sensitive Issue” from France in a New Europe Perspectives on Business and Economics, Volume 15, 1997 Sarah (Verbosky) Luck ‘97 is now employed as Senior Research Manager, Packing at Church & Dwight Co., Inc. The author examined the benefits and costs of France instituting strict anti-immigration policies prior to 1997. Has France instituted more immigration policies since 1997? Yes, France has instituted several immigration policies since 1997. A key one is a 1998 law, inspired by US visa policy, that eased requirements for entry into France for certain highly skilled professionals, such as scientists and scholars. The 1998 immigration law was set in place because France was behind countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom in attracting high skilled foreign human capital (Guiraudon, 2001). France passed another immigration bill in 2018 that “shortens asylum application deadlines, doubles the time for which illegal migrants can be detained, and introduces a one-year prison sentence for entering France illegally” (France approves…, 2018). These 2018 immigration reforms were controversial, with critics arguing that the reforms placed too much emphasis on tightening border controls and reducing asylum processing times at the expense of humanitarian considerations. In 2024, France published another immigration law with amendments on residency and citizenship and stricter policies on immigration. Despite censure from protests, the law was enacted, reflecting the government's commitment to reforms restricting immigration. The bill passed the national assembly 349 votes in favor to 186 against (France: new, 2024). Has there been a change in sentiment towards immigrants in France? In the late 1990s, the French approach to immigration was relatively more open, focusing on integration and multiculturalism. However, the early 2000s saw increasing concerns about immigration, fueled by changing economic conditions in France and high-profile political debates. The French approach today is shaped by a combination of security concerns, economic considerations, and national identity. France has tightened its immigration policies, particularly in response to security concerns. Events like the 2015 Paris attacks also intensified debates about immigration. The rise of extremist parties with stronger views on immigration have also influenced public sentiment. “The most recent U.S. News Best Countries survey found that French attitudes about increasing immigrant levels were among the most negative out of 36 countries surveyed” (Davis, 2024). France has tightened its immigration policies, particularly in response to security concerns. The government has created stricter border controls for asylum seekers and migrants. Immigration has become a more polarizing issue in Europe since the turn of the 21st century, and countries like France have shifted towards more extremist views on the issue. References Davis, E. Jr. (2024, January 25). 3 questions about France’s immigration law backlash, answered. US News. France approves controversial immigration bill. (2018, April 23). BBC. France: new comprehensive immigration law introduced. (2024, March 11). Fragomen. Guiraudon, V. (2001, July 1). Immigration policy in France. Brookings. Retrospective by Randi Conroy ‘25 Finance, with mass communication minor 2 Martindale Retrospectives November 2024
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