France's immigration minister orders arrests
France’s new immigration minister today ordered stepped-up arrests and expulsions of illegal immigrants and, in a clear toughening of the French approach to the problem, set quotas for police and customs officers to fulfil by the end of the year.
Brice Hortefeux, who heads the newly created Ministry of Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Co-Development, said a monthly quota also would be set for ferreting out those employed here illegally.
In a meeting with security officials, Mr Hortefeux reiterated President Nicolas Sarkozy’s goal of 25,000 expulsions by the end of 2007 – compared with 24,000 in 2006 – and set a year-end goal of 125,000 arrests for alleged illegal entry or illegal residence, a ministry statement said.
The number of those already arrested was not immediately clear.
Mr Sarkozy, elected president May 6, said during the campaign that he would create a ministry of immigration and national identity to rein in the flow of migrants and ensure that those living in the county are integrated into French society.
