France's New Interior Minister Targets Irregular Migration Policies

Bruno Retailleau has been appointed as France's new Interior Minister, taking a hardline stance on irregular migration. His policies include increasing deportations through OQTF orders, which require individuals denied residency or asylum to leave France within a month. Retailleau aims to limit the ability of regional governments to regularize migrants and intends to implement migration quotas, compelling asylum applications to be made in home countries. His approach has raised concerns among migration support agencies and advocacy groups, fearing negative impacts on vulnerable populations. The political landscape in France has shifted, with Retailleau's appointment reflecting a growing influence of right-wing ideologies, particularly following the recent elections where the RN party gained significant support. This shift may embolden further restrictive immigration policies in the country, as the right continues to assert that irregular migrants exploit the healthcare system, despite a lack of evidence to support such claims.