France cannot afford more "migrants" from north Africa
France cannot afford to take in waves of North African migrants looking for jobs, the head of President Nicolas Sarkozy's party argued Wednesday, as European neighbors spar over what to do with thousands of unemployed Tunisians who have arrived illegally on this border-free continent.Oh? What if all they're willing to speak is other languages? And while not mentioned, Islamofascism is definitely a problem these infiltrators will bring with them. That's why it's a good thing France has been closing its own borders and turning them away from Italy's side. They're going to have to get serious if they want to bolster the public trust.
Paris police detained illegal migrants from Tunisia, Egypt and Libya in roundups around the French capital on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to city hall. That angered charity groups who are trying to find them housing and keep them off the streets.
Jean-Francois Cope said in an interview that France wants to revise Europe's open-border system and limit immigration because of economics, not xenophobia.
"Do we have the means to absorb job-related immigration? The answer is largely no," the chief of the UMP party told The Associated Press.
France's government debt is well more than half of its gross domestic product, and unemployment is nearly 10 percent. Joblessness is even higher among unskilled youth, which bodes ill for the largely unskilled young Tunisians clamoring to get here.
France and Italy have been at odds over how to deal with more than 20,000 illegal Tunisian migrants who entered the European Union via the small Italian island of Lampedusa since the longtime president fled a popular revolt in January. Most want to reach France, Tunisia's former colonial ruler, where they can speak the language and have friends or family.
Labels: Europe, France, immigration, islam, Italy