French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has announced that the government of France will make changes to the country’s constitution in order to end the policy of birthright citizenship in overseas Mayotte department.
Mayotte is one of the overseas departments of France as well as one of the 18 regions of France, with the same status as the departments of Metropolitan France.
Mayotte consists of two islands in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and the coast of Mozambique, and while it is a department and region of France, traditional Mayotte culture is most closely related to that of the neighboring Comoros islands.
In 1973, the Comoros Islands gained independence from France, but Mayotte decided to remain under French control, making it distinct from the rest of the archipelago.
While visiting Mamoudzou on Grande-Terre, Minister Darmanin announced that a significant decision in regards to Mayotte birthright French citizenship would be made. According to him, individuals will no longer have the option to acquire French nationality unless they are born to at least one parent who holds French citizenship.
He said that such measure would reduce the attractiveness of Mayotte to illegal immigrants, trying to enter France and settle in the country.
Darmanin made the announcement following a series of recent protests in Mayotte against soaring crime, poverty, and immigration, which residents have deemed as unmanageable. The protesters have additionally called for the right of travel to mainland France for individuals with valid Mayotte residence permits, a practice that is presently forbidden.
According to Darmanin, the residence permit system will be reformed in conjunction with birthright citizenship. The proposal has run into opposition in the French parliament, however.
Minister Darmanin said that the reform of the residence permit system will also be carried out alongside birthright citizenship changes. Despite facing opposition in the French parliament, the proposal moves forward.
Mayotte encompasses approximately 145 square miles (375 square kilometers) and is estimated to have a population of around 320,000, though some reports suggest that some French officials consider this figure to be a significant underestimation.
According to 2018 data provided by France’s National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, 84% of the residents on the island fall below the French poverty line of €959 ($1,033) per month per household. INSEE also reported that approximately one-third of them lack employment opportunities and access to running water, while around 40% reside in makeshift dwellings constructed from corrugated metal.