Controversy Island - France

25,000 immigrants arrested in France's new state

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The tiny island of Mayotte, off the coast of Africa, has officially become a part of France. But with its new status come familiar problems, as thousands of immigrants pour in, seeking a better life.

Blurred footage secretly recorded by Amnesty International shows the floor writhing. It's completely covered with people lying down beside and on top of each other in the absolute squalor of the island's detention centre. Yet despite Mayotte's new status, as a part of France, it doesn't look like anything will change. "Even in the French newspapers Mayotte doesn't exist", says Patrick Villedieux of Medecins du Monde. This lack of awareness is compounded by an administration whose only concern is keeping the borders tight. "I don't think there's any other approach; it's the price of making the new status work", claims the island's prefect. But while this policy may protect France, it is wreaking havoc on Mayotte. In order to keep illegal immigration in check it has become a near police state: "The police pressure is 100%, and they're everywhere". The fault does not only lie with France: the nearby Comoros islands, where the poverty-stricken immigrants come from, is doing nothing to stem the problem. Yet Mayotte's new status will always be a temptation and France's hard-line policies are doing nothing to solve the situation.

A Film By SBS
Distributed By Journeyman Pictures
May 2011

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• controversy
• france
• journeyman
• pictures
• immigration

[VLK249]

They voted to remove themselves from France and become economically independent, and thus suffered the consequences. France should not be expected to award handouts. Its preexisting colonies are all extremely poor, and that is a lot of demand that can take an economic power into ruin.

[Wrapped4]

In other words France wants the resources but not the people. Shame

[paisleyyama]

It sounds like an immigration problem to me. On the one hand, I always sympathize with illegal immigrants who go somewhere just to work & support their families. On the other hand, I sympathize with the host country that often has to take an economic biurden from illegal immigrants that don`t work, or get citizens job`s unemployment is high or economic conditions are bad, or illegals bring in crime. So it is not always a clear cut picture.

[OrthodoxDarwinist]

@istuddd

Communism doesn't even come into the equation here. You're just using name calling because it prevents you from actually needing to use your brain for once in your sad existence.

[istuddd]

@OrthodoxDarwinist fuck off you communist go donate your parents money 2 poor ppl

[OrthodoxDarwinist]

@istuddd

No YOU need to be separated from humanity, and put in some sort of house for special people.

[istuddd]

@OrthodoxDarwinist go back to your dream world in your gated estate ,,,the poor violent countries need to be separated from us

[OrthodoxDarwinist]

@istuddd

There's probably countless people out there including myself that would point out you seem to be more uncivilized than anyone else.

[istuddd]

@OrthodoxDarwinist borders separate us from uncivilized ppl

[istuddd]

@gugagagagreprpr oh lol way 2 go bro