622 4 who said very explicitly that article l

It started with a film. In "Welcome", released a few weeks ago on the screens, directed by Philippe Lioret Director has resurrected a sensitive issue: that of helping the foreigners in an irregular situation. Since then, the associations battling iron for the amendment of article l. 622 - 1 of the Code of the entry and stay of foreigners. Demonstrations in many cities took place yesterday. A socialist law proposal to "delete the offence of solidarity" was considered at the same time in the Committee on the laws to the Assembly prior to be discussed at the meeting, on 30 April. And Senators RDSE (in radical left-wing majority) have announced the morning that they were preparing to file a draft law to this effect.

The famous article l. 622 - 1, old of more than a half century, any person who "by a direct or indirect support will be facilitated or to try to facilitate the entry, circulation or irregular stay of an alien" faces a conviction that can go up to five years ' imprisonment and 30,000 euros in fine. The text, and this is the sensitive point, makes no distinction between persons acting humanitarian and those who belong to networks of smugglers and act with finance or counterparties.

In fact, the convictions of volunteers to the title of the article l. 622 - 1 are almost non-existent (4 in sixty-five years), but associations worry the penal risk incurred by their members, as by any citizen, that would help free of charge an undocumented migrants. "You cannot let people die in the street." "It affects a Republican principle, that of brotherhood", said Christophe Deltombe, President of Emmaus. Associations like that only persons acting "for profit" may be condemned and that Act recognizes the right of unconditional home of foreigners in accommodation centres.

"Strategies of intimidation."

"The problem is not so much the convictions, few, that stops that are on the increase." "Without effective strategies of intimidation of the police to the associations, including the multiplication of the guards in sight of volunteers", explains Sandrine Mazetier, National Secretary of the PS in charge of immigration issues. Since the establishment of the organic law on the statutes of Finances (LOLF), targets of stops of "helpers" were indeed fixed: 5.500 for the coming year (5.024 were recorded in 2008).

Wagering in question who leap the Minister of Immigration and national identity, Eric Besson. "The crime of solidarity does not exist, it is a myth, it is defended, yesterday morning on France Inter." All those and those who, in good faith, assist an alien in an irregular situation, should know that they risk nothing: they are not the words, they are facts. "For the former Socialist official," there is no blur: If you add another article, article l. 622 - 4, who said very explicitly that article l. 622 - 1 does not apply to those that help a person in distress. "

Eric Besson "demand not only that it is working" aid associations, and "this is what we do", but "we help them", he said, "EUR 20 million" providing State subsidies.