Draft:Asylum in France
Seeking asylum in France is a legal right that is admitted by the constitution of France. Meanwhile, the status of recognised asylum seekers are protected by corresponding laws and Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, which France had signed in 25th July, 1951. France is considered as one of the main asylum host countries in Europe. In 2017 there have been 337,143 refugees registered in and up to the end of 2018, 20,710 new asylum seekers have been given legal status to reside in France. Asylum policies in France is regarded as a concerned topic among the public and politicians, and some controversies also exist in the current system of French asylum policies, such as issues on the assimilation policy, national security problems and living conditions of asylum seekers.
Laws and Procedures
The status of asylum seekers
The legal status of seeking asylum in France is guaranteed under the Asylum and Immigration Law.
Two types of asylum protections are classified by the French asylum law: Refugee status and Subsidiary status. The Refugee status formally would be given to persons satsifying conditions which defined by Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees of UNHCR. Meanwhile, the subsidiary status could be possibly given to any other type of asylum seekers who do not meet the criteria of a refugee status recognition. Generally, one can be given a subsidiary status as long as he/she proves risks of a threat or serious harm to their personal safety once they return to their origin country[1].
Besides, any of the following situations mentioned by the asylum law could lead to the denial of applications:
(a) An overt threat could be seen and proven if the applicator wishes to enter French territory;
(b) A previous sentence or punishment for terriorism had been imposed on the applicator, which would be regarded as a serious harm to the French society[2].
Applications
All asylum seekers must have entered the French territory before they could start the formal application, otherwise it could not be accpeted[2]. To reach the condition, applicators can either reqeust for a special visa for asylum application from a French embassy/console or get a temporary visa up to 8 days at the crossing point of the French border.
Next, asylum seekers will need to register themselves as "asylum seekers" in an "GUDA", which refers to a single-desk contact point and get a formal certificate which allows them to lodge the application form[3]. Some of the documents are needed as shown below:
- Information relating to civil status;
- Travel documents, entry visa or any documentation giving information on the conditions of entry on the French territory and travel routes from the country of origin;
- 4 ID photos; and
- In case the asylum seeker is housed on his or her own means, his or her address[3].
Then applicators would be able to formally apply for the asylum status. Other than a copy of the asylum certificate, 2 ID photos, a travel document and the copy of the residence permit will be needed. In addition, applicators would also need to write an explanation in French that clarifies the intention for seeking asylum in France.
Proceeding
Currently, the OFPRA (French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons) takes charge of all asylum affairs and application proceedings for France. After receiving applications, OFPRA would start an investigation on each applicator from evaluating provided documents to assessments of personal situations, including the situation of origin country, past harm on body, deliberate threat or prosecution that applicators may suffered[2].
After all information verified and evaluated, the OFPRA would make a decision and notify the applicator whether he/she is granted the asylum status or not. Besides, in a period of one month applicators could also appeal negative decisions to the CNDA (National Court of Asylum)[2]. The judge may take about five months.
Statistics
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The number of people seeking asylum in France experienced a significant raise after 1970s. From 1970 to 1995, applications annually for asylun in France increased from nearly 5000 during 1970 to 1974 to 112,200[4]from 1995 to 1999.
In 2010, France received about 48100 asylum applications which makes it one of the top 5 countries receiving the most asylum seekers[5].
During 2015-2017 due to the Europe Refugee Crisis, there was an upward trend of asylum applications numbers in France. Applications for asylum in 2015, 2016 and 2017 reached to 71,000[6], 85,244[7], 100,412[8] respectively.
According to OFPRA's statistics, In 2018 nearly 122,743 persons have been registered as asylum seekers.
Policy trends
The recession of economics was considered as a reason for tougher policies. In July 1974, the Chiarc government announced to close the French border for immigration except "Political Refugee"
In April 2018, new amendments of the Asylum and Immigration Law (N. 2018-778) were passed by the National Assembly. And some of the core changes are presented below:
- Access to the territory: The right to protection from removal for a “full day” (jour franc) is no longer available to persons refused entry at land borders (Article L.213-2 Ceseda). This change has significant consequences, given that the vast majority of refusal of entry measures are taken at the French-Italian land border[9].
- Accelerated procedure: Asylum applications lodged 90 days following entry into the territory, as opposed to 120 days prior to the reform. Moreover, as regards asylum seekers who pose a threat to public order or national security, OFPRA no longer has the possibility to re-channel the case into the regular procedure (Article L.723-2 Ceseda)[10].
- Appeal: The deadline to appeal Dublin transfer decisions is restored at 15 days, following a reduction to 7 days by Law n. 2018-187 of 20 March 2018. In relation to appeals against inadmissibility decisions and negative decisions under the accelerated procedures, the appeal no longer has automatic suspensive effect, so the asylum seeker’s right to remain is no longer guaranteed automatically[10].
- Freedom of movement: The national reception system will set out a distribution mechanism across regions, setting out the share of asylum seekers to be accommodated by each region. Where a region has exceeded its share and capacity, OFII can direct an asylum seeker to a different region where he or she will be required to reside throughout the asylum procedure. The right to material reception conditions becomes dependent on compliance with this requirement in such cases. The asylum seeker will have to request authorisation from OFII to temporarily leave the assigned region, except for cases of overriding reasons of summons by authorities or courts (Article L.744-2 Ceseda)[10].
- Access to the labour market: The time limit for formal access to the labour market for asylum seekers is reduced from 9 to 6 months (Article L.744-11 Ceseda).
Related issues
Some issues regarding to asylum protections in France are claimed to have affected France negatively.
National security
After 2015 the Europe Refugee Crisis, refugees in France are being partially connected with the increasing number of terrorist attacks. Some voices claimed that the influx of islamist radicals and the failure of integration policy had contributed to the deteriorating safety environment of France[11].
References
- ^ Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Refugee status, subsidiary protection, and the right to be granted asylum under EC law, María-Teresa Gil-Bazo". UNHCR. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
- ^ a b c d Boring, Nicolas (2016-03). "Refugee Law and Policy: France". www.loc.gov. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b "Registration of the asylum application - France | Asylum Information Database". www.asylumineurope.org. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
- ^ Van Mol, Christof; de Valk, Helga (2016), Garcés-Mascareñas, Blanca; Penninx, Rinus (eds.), "Migration and Immigrants in Europe: A Historical and Demographic Perspective", Integration Processes and Policies in Europe: Contexts, Levels and Actors, IMISCOE Research Series, Springer International Publishing, pp. 31–55, doi:10.1007/978-3-319-21674-4_3, ISBN 9783319216744, retrieved 2019-05-19
- ^ Kalt, Anne; Hossain, Mazeda; Kiss, Ligia; Zimmerman, Cathy (2013-3). "Asylum Seekers, Violence and Health: A Systematic Review of Research in High-Income Host Countries". American Journal of Public Health. 103 (3): e30 – e42. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2012.301136. ISSN 0090-0036. PMC PMCPMC3673512. PMID 23327250.
{{cite journal}}: Check|pmc=value (help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ NW, 1615 L. St; Washington, Suite 800; Inquiries, DC 20036 USA202-419-4300 | Main202-419-4349 | Fax202-419-4372 | Media (2016-08-02). "Record 1.3 Million Sought Asylum in Europe in 2015 | Pew Research Center". Retrieved 2019-05-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Country Report-France" (PDF). Asylum Information Database.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Country Report-France" (PDF). Asylum Information Database.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "France: Asylum and immigration reform codifies stricter conditions | Asylum Information Database". www.asylumineurope.org. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
- ^ a b c Avenue, Human Rights Watch | 350 Fifth; York, 34th Floor | New; t 1.212.290.4700, NY 10118-3299 USA | (2018-08-04). "France Approves Flawed Asylum and Immigration Law". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "France has had more than its share of terrorist attacks. These 3 factors explain why". The Washington Post.