Berkley Center

Since the beginning of the twentieth century, France has been one of the largest European havens for immigrants and refugees of African or European origin. In the years surrounding World War II, it welcomed thousands of refugees of war. In the mid to late twentieth century, France received an influx of immigrants from recently liberated French colonies. Today, due to the free flow of workers and migrants across the borders of European nations inside the European Union, people flock to France for its relatively stronger economy and social programs. The newest migrant group in France is les Roms, the French name given to the group of ethnically Romanian and Bulgarian peoples living outside their country of origin, often referred to in English as the Roma. Although it presents itself as a diverse country, welcoming of immigrants, France however has yet again proven itself to be a nation unaccepting of foreigners. In the twentieth century and today, Jews, Africans, and North African Muslims face significant discrimination in French social, economic, and political spheres. Now, it unfortunately seems to be the turn of the Roma to suffer.

Approximately 20,000 Roma currently live in France, over half of them living in metropolitan Paris. Those unable to find work or shelter take to the streets, sleeping in parks, subway stations, or alleyways or join periphery communities of other Roma around city centers. The majority of them reside in communities of makeshift homes called les Bidonvilles on the outskirts of Paris. These communities are built on either private or government owned property, making their construction and residence within them illegal. For this reason their homes are torn down regularly by law enforcement officials, an event that repeats itself for some up to several times per week.

The French government, at all levels, from the prime minister, Manuel Valls, to local government officials, has repeatedly denounced the presence of the Roma in France. The MRAP, a French anti-racist, anti-discrimination group, was among the few to criticize discriminatory government statements. However, from what I have been able to gather, in the eyes of the French, they represent an insignificant yet burdensome population. It can be seen in the body language of many as they walk past handicapped Roma beggars on the street or in the deep sigh they let out when a mother, with child in arms, steps onto the metro asking for change or food to eat. Many of the Roma are legally homeless and a significant portion of them have poor writing and speaking skills in French if they have any at all. Yet despite this, rather than help the Roma integrate and find their way off the streets or out of illegal periphery communities, the French just want them gone. This is exactly what the French government has recently begun to undertake. It can’t deport Roma individuals who haven’t committed crimes, as they are European Union citizens, but it can incentivize their departure. In 2010, France began offering 300 euros per Roma adult and 100 euros per Roma child to leave the country with travel expenses paid for. Since then, the incentivizing reward for leaving has climbed to an undisclosed amount.

While this is quite perturbing, what has shocked me the most is the French government’s blatant discrimination towards Roma children. French government has always preached of the importance of integration, promising to help all its immigrant populations acclimate to life in France by instilling within them an understanding of the French identity and French culture in an effort to help them become and feel French. Educating the young immigrant population in the French school system, alongside French students, was the optimal medium through which such lessons could be taught. This education was and still is free, as it is for all French students, no matter what the family’s background, origin, or living situation is. Nevertheless, Roma children have been barred from schools in many towns by local city halls across France, and virtually no one, not even those who suffered similar discrimination as immigrants, has come to their defense in an effective manner.

This is an issue that the French government urgently needs to solve. Thousands of Roma are living in deplorable conditions in France, and nearly every day I pass an entire family sleeping on the street. Many claim to be willing to work and ready to be educated, and they should be given the opportunity, as they have the right to. Integration will not be easy, but the transition into a safer, more stable, and prosperous life can be greatly aided by the support of the French people and their government.