Thread: Paris police evict 500 immigrant squatters

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14395927/

Paris police evict 500 immigrant squatters
By Martin Arnold in Paris
Financial Times


Updated: 7:11 p.m. PT Aug 17, 2006
French police on Thursday raided the country's biggest squat, clearing out more than 500 immigrants from a disused student hall of residence in the southern outskirts of Paris.

The surprise "evacuation" of the squatters, most from sub-Saharan Africa and about half of them living in France illegally, is the latest move by Nicolas Sarkozy, interior minister and presidential hopeful, to show voters that he is getting tough on immigration.

Mr Sarkozy last month pushed through a new law tightening entry visa rules. His strict stance is designed to win supporters from Jean-Marie Le Pen, the far-right National Front leader, in next year's election.

However, he is treading a fine line after a campaign of civil disobedience forced him into a partial U-turn this summer over plans to deport illegal immigrant families with children in school. This week he said 6,000 visas would be granted to such families and 24,000 others would be deported.

The interior ministry said on Thursday night that the five-storey building in Cachan, close to Orly airport, had been evacuated and would be prepared for demolition "in the coming days". Some squatters have lived there since 2003, ignoring a court order for them to leave in 2004.

The ministry said it decided to raid the building out of concern for the health of the squatters, because of the risk of fire and the presence of lead and asbestos.

However, the raid by hundreds of police, firemen and ambulance staff drew criticism from leftwing opposition parties and associations working with immigrants.

Maybe France is getting tough on illegal immigration because they've seen what can happen in this country. We're such a great example to show other countries what happens when you let invaders come in by the millions. Our leaders look weak, which most of them are. Selling us out to big biz and voters, real ethical bunch in DC, makes me sick.

I believe France had their own dose of reality from last years riots. Here are a sampling of articles and pictures we have archived on the forum.

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ance+riots

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ance+riots

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ance+riots

Pictures

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ance+riots