The recent announcement by French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin to end birthright citizenship in the Indian Ocean island of Mayotte has sparked a heated debate about immigration policies and the principles of equality in France. Mayotte, a tiny French possession, has been struggling with mass immigration and the strain it has placed on the island’s resources. While the proposed change in citizenship rules is limited to Mayotte, it has raised concerns about potential implications for the rest of France.
The constitutional change to end “birthplace citizenship” in Mayotte has not been well-received by both the left and right political factions in France. The left argues that this reform undermines the principle of universality and could lead to a citizenship system based on racial origin. On the other hand, the right believes that birthright citizenship should be abandoned across the entire country, not just in Mayotte. The debate revolves around the concepts of droit du sol (right of the soil) and jus sanguinis (right of blood). The former grants automatic citizenship to individuals born on French territory, while the latter confers citizenship based on parental lineage.
Advocates of droit du sol argue that it upholds France’s values as a beacon of humanism and inclusivity. However, the situation in Mayotte highlights the challenges posed by demographic changes and mass migration, causing governments to question long-standing policies. With Mayotte facing an influx of immigrants from neighboring countries and increasing numbers of asylum seekers, there is growing discontent among the island’s population. Civil disobedience movements have emerged, demanding stricter immigration controls and an end to birthright citizenship.
The Mayotte population, estimated at 300,000, faces the overwhelming pressure of accommodating thousands of migrants arriving on small boats from the Comoros islands and asylum seekers from the Central African region. Hospitals on the island have been inundated with over 10,000 births each year, predominantly from mothers hailing from the Comoros. This situation has prompted Mayotte’s residents to call for an end to the droit du sol. They argue that their geographical location renders them prisoners of their circumstances, while the rest of France applauds their ideological principles from afar.
In response to the demands of the Mahorais (the people of Mayotte), the French government plans to abolish birthright citizenship on the island. The rationale behind this decision is to remove the incentive for immigration. Critics, however, question whether this measure will truly solve the problem or simply redirect immigration flows. Some argue that it is not citizenship per se that attracts immigrants to Mayotte but rather the comparatively better living standards. Moreover, there are concerns that what starts in Mayotte may eventually extend to the rest of France. The mainstream and hard right political factions are now openly discussing the potential end of the droit du sol throughout the country.
The Macron government, dependent on right-wing support for any constitutional changes in Mayotte, faces complex political dynamics. Will the right condition its support on the reform expanding to France as a whole? Alternatively, will they obstruct the constitutional change solely for Mayotte, deeming it too restrictive? And could the right leverage these debates in their presidential campaigns, vying for nationwide abandonment of birthright citizenship? These are questions that remain unanswered but underscore the evolving nature of immigration policies in France.
Amidst a record number of asylum requests in 2020, reaching 142,500, the government is under substantial pressure to address the immigration crisis. The potential tightening of migrant laws reflects the urgency to find effective solutions. Although the proposed change primarily focuses on Mayotte, the ramifications may extend beyond the island, challenging the notion of equality and citizenship in France as a whole. As the world continues to change, only time will reveal the path France ultimately chooses to navigate the intricacies of immigration policies.
