French immigration rules to be reviewed as far right weaponises murder

France's interior minister has indicated that he will advocate for stricter immigration policies as the far-right attempts to leverage a horrific murder to pressure the government.

In response to the arrest of a Moroccan man accused of murdering a 19-year-old female student, Bruno Retailleau stated on Wednesday that this “abominable crime” necessitates not just rhetoric, but decisive action, as called for by far-right parties in relation to the incident. “It is our responsibility as public leaders to refuse to accept the inevitable and to enhance our legal framework to protect the French people,” Retailleau emphasized. “If we need to change the rules, then let’s change them.”

This hardline stance on immigration is not new for Retailleau, a member of the conservative Republicans party who has long supported stricter immigration regulations and expedited deportations. His remarks align with the demands of the far-right National Rally (RN) party, which has warned that it could destabilize France’s fragile governing coalition if its immigration concerns remain unaddressed.

“It’s time for this government to take action: our fellow citizens are angry and will not settle for mere words,” RN leader Jordan Bardella remarked regarding the murder of the student, known only by her first name, Philippine.

Greens lawmaker Sandrine Rousseau countered the anti-migrant rhetoric, cautioning that the far right is exploiting the murder case to “spread its racist hatred.”

Bungled Deportation

The suspect in the murder has been identified as a 22-year-old male Moroccan national, who was arrested on Tuesday in the Swiss canton of Geneva, according to AFP news agency.

Prosecutors revealed that the suspect had been convicted in 2021 for a rape committed in 2019, when he was still a minor. Le Monde reported that he was scheduled to be deported from France after serving his prison sentence for that crime.

On June 20, he was transferred to a detention center for undocumented migrants while awaiting his deportation. However, a judge released him on September 3, citing administrative delays in the deportation process and requiring him to regularly check in with the police.

Three days later, although the deportation paperwork was finalized, the man had vanished, authorities said.

While France regularly issues deportation orders, only about 7 percent are enforced, compared to 30 percent across the European Union.