Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of the French capital Paris on Sunday to protest against the government’s contentious immigration law, which was recently passed with the support of far-right lawmakers in parliament.
Responding to a call from more than 400 associations, unions and political parties, they braved the cold weather to express their opposition to the law.
Critics of the law argue that it will lead to discrimination against foreigners in the country and are demanding the abandonment of what they consider to be a “racist” policy.
The immigration law, approved in parliament on Dec. 19 last year, ties rental assistance and family benefits provided to foreigners residing in the country to specific employment conditions.
According to the law, employed foreigners can benefit from rental support three months after arriving in France, while non-employed individuals can obtain rental support after five years.
In the meantime, the severe cold spell has aggravated the situation of the migrants sleeping under bridges. On the banks of the Seine River, hundreds or even thousands of migrants sleep in makeshift tents under the bridge in the sub-zero cold and frost, and some freeze and die.
