France's Constitutional Council has struck down significant portions of a contentious immigration law passed in late 2023. The high court ruled on January 25, 2024, that several articles, including measures making it harder for immigrants to access social benefits and imposing migration quotas, were unconstitutional.
The law, a compromise between President Emmanuel Macron's centrist government and the conservative Les Républicains party, had faced criticism from human rights groups and some of Macron's own allies for its restrictive nature. The Council's decision invalidated 32 of the law's 86 articles, dealing a major blow to the government's legislative agenda on immigration.
Provisions that were censured included stricter conditions for foreigners to access family allowance benefits and housing assistance. The Council also rejected the introduction of annual migration quotas set by Parliament, stating it infringed on the government's constitutional prerogative to control immigration policy.
The ruling was welcomed by left-wing parties and NGOs but criticized by right-wing figures who argued it undermined efforts to control migration. The government stated it would respect the decision and apply the law only in its censored form.
