French Justice Minister Calls for Three-Year Halt to Legal Immigration

A three-year pause on legal immigration has been suggested by French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, arguing that France has reached “the limit” of its ability to integrate newcomers.

In a May 24 interview with the Journal du Dimanche, reported in La Nouvelle Republique, Mr Darmanin said immigration policy should become a central issue in the 2027 presidential election campaign.

“We must put an end to immigration as it exists today,” he said, adding that France had reached “the limit of our capacities for integration and assimilation”.

The number of first French residency cards increased by 11.2% in 2025 compared to 2024, according to interior ministry figures.

Mr Darmanin proposed suspending some forms of legal immigration for three years and tightening rules on family reunification. He suggested that residence permits granted for work should no longer automatically give migrants the right to bring family members to France.

He also called for constitutional reform to allow France to introduce binding immigration quotas rather than the current indicative system.

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Mr Darmanin said he supported holding a referendum on immigration policy, although he acknowledged that constitutional changes would first be required.

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French presidents currently face strict constitutional limits on the use of referendums on immigration matters, and previous proposals for migration-related votes have faced legal and political obstacles.

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