The French government has welcomed new data indicating a substantial rise in deportations of migrants in 2024, as part of its broader effort to address immigration concerns and counter the

growing influence of the far-right.

According to preliminary figures released by the Interior Ministry, approximately 22,000 individuals living in France without legal status were deported last year, marking a 27% increase compared to 2023. Of these, nearly 13,000 were forcibly removed, around 5,000 received assistance to leave the country, and approximately 4,000 departed voluntarily.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, a member of the conservative government, has emphasized stricter migration policies and a crackdown on drug-related crimes in an attempt to regain voter support from Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN). Former Interior Minister and current Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin praised the latest deportation figures, stating on social media platform X: "I am delighted with these results, achieved through the firm policies we implemented in the first nine months of last year and continued under Bruno Retailleau."

Despite the government's emphasis on increased deportations, opposition figures, including Marine Le Pen, have pointed to a simultaneous rise in the number of residency permits issued in 2024. Official data shows that 336,710 permits were granted, reflecting a 1.8% increase from the previous year. The Interior Ministry reported that the majority of these permits were issued to students, individuals reuniting with family members, or those granted residency for humanitarian reasons.

Le Pen criticized the rise in permits, labeling it "a new record" and calling for stricter immigration controls. "We must now take decisive action and implement the necessary measures to regain control of our migration policy," she stated on X.

The ongoing debate over immigration policy has intensified political tensions in France. Last week, Prime Minister François Bayrou remarked that many citizens feel "overwhelmed" by immigration. His comments were met with approval from far-right factions but faced sharp criticism from left-wing opponents, nearly disrupting budget negotiations in parliament.

As the government navigates these challenges, the balance between enforcing stricter immigration policies and addressing concerns from various political factions remains a central issue in French politics. Photo by Mstyslav Chernov, Wikimedia commons.