By Paul Nachman
09/24/2007
Theorem: Where illegal immigration is concerned, the mainstream media everywhere is into sob stories.My theorem is at least consistent with how this Associated Press article ("France Races to Oust Illegal Immigrants," San Francisco Chronicle, 9/22/2007) begins:
"A Russian boy suffers head injuries after falling from a window while trying to elude police. A North African man slips from a window ledge and fractures his leg while fleeing officers. A Chinese woman lies in a coma after plunging from a window during a police check."As France races to deport 25,000 illegal immigrants by the end of the year — a quota set by President Nicolas Sarkozy — tensions are mounting and the crackdown is taking a toll."
Nevertheless, Sarkozy is quotable enough that he evidently forced reporter Elaine Ganley’s hand:
"'I want numbers,' Sarkozy reportedly told Brice Hortefeux, head of the Ministry of Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Co-Development, which Sarkozy set up after taking office in May. 'This is a campaign commitment. The French expect (action) on this.'"
Suddenly, in France, "campaign commitment" apparently means "campaign commitment." Contrast that with last fall’s hullaballoo here over the fence bill — whooped through Congress but almost forgotten now, and not because we actually have a fence in place.
I've saved the best for last:
"The president, who cultivated a tough-on-crime image while serving as Interior Minister, says France needs a new kind of immigrant — one who is ’selected, not endured.'"
Selected, not endured. Imagine that! You could build a rational immigration policy, starting with just those three words.
But Sarkozy fleshed it out a bit, too:
"In a nationally televized interview Thursday, Sarkozy went further, saying he wants France to adopt immigration quotas by regions of the world and by occupation."'I want us to be able to establish each year, after a debate in parliament, a quota with a ceiling for the number of foreigners we accept on our territory,' he said. [Emphasis added]"
Of course, reporter Ganley couldn’t avoid a bit of stern editorializing, probably reflexive and unconscious (I’m serious!):
"European countries to the south, like Italy or Spain, face a greater challenge from illegal immigration than France — but neither has set themselves targets for throwing aliens out."
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