The recent call by French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin for a three-year moratorium on immigration has sparked quite the debate, as highlighted in a Breitbart article from January 30, 2026. Darmanin, positioning himself for the 2027 presidential race, argues that France needs a break from non-essential inflows to shake off its "addiction" to cheap migrant labor and address domestic unemployment.
France's economy is hooked on migrant workers for jobs locals often shun, like construction, agriculture, and services; or so the elites say. Darmanin points out the "hypocrisy" of high unemployment — hovering around 8% — while still importing labour. In 2025, a record 384,000 first residence permits were issued, an 11% jump from the prior year, pushing the foreign resident count to over 4.5 million (about 8% of the population, excluding naturalised citizens). Many come from North Africa — Algerians, Moroccans, and Tunisians top the list — filling roles in a "sluggish" job market where wage growth is stagnant.
This dependency isn't new. Post-WWII, immigration fuelled growth, contributing 40% to population increases in the boom years. But today, with fertility rates below replacement (1.46 births per woman in the EU), migrants help offset demographic decline. The flip side? Critics like National Rally leader Jordan Bardella warn of a "dizzying rise" risking the "disappearance" of French identity. Darmanin's moratorium idea — halting work and family visas (with exceptions for doctors, researchers, and some students) — aims to force wage hikes and lure inactive locals back to work. It's a bold reset, but sceptics argue it ignores how half of new arrivals are students or refugees, not economic migrants. Economic immigration actually dropped 13% in 2025.
Here's where things get stickier. France's republican model demands assimilation — think "liberté, égalité, fraternité" — but reality bites. A 2025 report on Afghan migrants shows 57% unemployed 18 months after integration contracts, highlighting language and job barriers. Origins have shifted: Africa now dominates (45% of arrivals in 2023), up from Europe-heavy flows in 2006. By 2024, third-country nationals hit 7.3 million, or 10.8% of the population.
Public sentiment leans toward concern over integration more than crime or economy. Recent laws tighten naturalisation: stricter criminal checks, B2 French proficiency, and a "commitment to republican principles" contract. But discrimination persists—non-European names face 40% lower job callback rates, and racist crimes rose 32% in 2023.
Unchecked growth strains housing, services, and identity in a nation proud of its universalism. Darmanin's referendum idea — asking "how many do you want?"—could democratise policy.
A moratorium might buy time, but without addressing the core issue of white racial replacement, it's just a band-aid.