The Minister of Immigration, Brice Hortefeux, wrote a latter to the French bishops to explain the migratory policy promoted by the French Government. The Bishops had actually expressed, on several occasions, their doubts and concerns about some passages of the new legislation that Sarkozy’s Government is implementing to control migratory flows to the country. "The situation of immigrants writes the Minister Hortefeux in his letter, published yesterday in its full text on the website of the French newspaper La Croix is too often painful. Many of them arrive in France and live in uncertainty". "An excessively hasty generosity might engender heavy consequences. For the refugees to be decently received, for legal migrants to be able to fit in with the national community, the State must carry out a well-balanced, consistent migration policy". The Ministry draws to the attention of the French Bishops that France is "fulfilling" its obligations about the refugees, since in 2006 it granted 40 thousand applications for asylum, and lists what the French Government has done to aid the countries of origins, by making deals with some African states. "Clarity writes the minister about illegal immigration is essential, not least in the migrants’ interest". (continued)” “
