Receive foreigners in the countryside more than in the cities. This is what Emmanuel Macron wants in the context of a new immigration law. The President expressed himself in this regard on September 15, denouncing an “absurd” policy in this area, “because it consists of putting the women and men who arrive, who are in the greatest misery, among the poorest.”
In Saint-Lys, a city of 10,000 inhabitants in Haute-Garonne, a retirement home could be transformed into a center to prepare assistance for the return of immigrants next year. The project led by the state provides for the reception of 120 immigrants in the city.
“Our territories are not suitable”
Residents are divided on the matter. One of them is “not too much for”, he thinks that “other things in Saint-Lys” have to be taken care of, instead of “people like that”. Another abounds: “We don’t have confidence at the state level. So if it’s about involving refugees during […] I don’t care, but we know the state, it will be for much longer.”
A young woman interviewed disagrees. For her, “we need a place for these people who are passing through and who need to be welcomed throughout the territory.”
Serge Deuilhé, the socialist mayor of the city, agrees to take in 80 immigrants and not 120 as the State intends.
“Our territories are not adapted to accommodate these populations,” explains the councilor who highlights the “little public transport” of his commune.
He organized a demonstration in this direction. It is scheduled for Friday night.
Monique Iborra, Renaissance deputy for Haute-Garonne, fears that this “will become an anti-immigrant demonstration.” To reassure opponents of the project, the prefecture indicated that the children would not be educated in the city’s schools.
Source: BFM TV
