The topic of immigration is a major focus in political discussions in the country leading up to the presidential elections, with candidates from both the left and right taking firm stances. The recent drowning of 27 migrants off the coast of France has further fueled the debate on the need to control migration. Despite the strong rhetoric from politicians, the reality is that France actually has a lower percentage of immigrants compared to its neighboring countries. Over the past ten years, immigration in France has grown at a slower rate than in other parts of Europe and wealthy nations globally. An expert on migration, François Héran, describes the immigration situation in France as "fairly typical and moderate." Politicians in France have proposed measures to restrict immigration, including imposing a moratorium, holding a referendum, or closing the borders, despite the country not being heavily impacted by immigration. Unlike countries like Germany and Australia, which are attracting migrant workers to address labor shortages caused by the pandemic, France is focusing on raising wages rather than allowing more immigrants into the country. Discussions about immigration in France often revolve around national identity, with concerns about the threat posed by Muslim immigrants from Africa. The issue has been fueled by fears of terrorism, particularly following attacks carried out by second-generation immigrants in recent years. These worries have had a cumulative impact in France, leading to a situation where any support for immigration is seen as a political risk, hindering necessary reforms to attract skilled foreign workers, and causing the country, once a global crossroads, to turn inward. According to Philippe Corcuff, an expert on the far right at the Institute of Political Studies in Lyon, France is entering a new phase where the collapse of the left has left a void on the topic of immigration, allowing the extreme right to shape the debate. Candidates from the center-right Republicans party all agree on the importance of "regaining control" of borders and restricting immigrants' access to social benefits. One candidate, Michel Barnier, has even suggested amending the French constitution to allow for a "pause on immigration" for three to five years. On the left, most candidates have chosen to remain silent on the issue, but one former economy minister has promised to prevent migrants from sending money back home via Western Union to countries that do not cooperate in repatriating their citizens who are in France illegally. The proposal came after President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to reduce the number of visas issued to citizens of Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. Writer and TV personality Éric Zemmour, who recently declared his candidacy for the presidency, has warned that France's Christian heritage is in jeopardy due to immigration from Muslim countries. Zemmour stated that France must not allow itself to be overwhelmed or replaced. Zemmour's candidacy has brought the previously taboo topic of the "great replacement" conspiracy theory into the election conversation, accusing politicians like Macron of using immigration to replace white, Christian people. Zemmour criticized French governments for concealing the reality of replacement and accused Macron of wanting to merge France with Europe and Africa. While some centre-right candidates were hesitant to use the term "great replacement," they acknowledged that the issue of replacement is a real concern for France. According to a recent survey, 61% of French respondents expressed their belief that Europe's white and Christian population would be replaced by Muslim immigrants. This contrasts with the recent elections in Germany, where immigration was not a prominent issue despite the country being a leader in accepting refugees. Jean-Christophe Dumont, from the OECD, noted that immigration was a key focus in France compared to Germany, even though France is not a major destination for immigrants. France's immigrant population in 2020 was 13%, below the OECD average. Between 2010 and 2020, the proportion of immigrants in the population grew by 16%. In contrast, immigrants made up 16% of Germany's population during the same period, representing a 30% increase. France's intake of workers from its former colonies in northern Africa decreased after a period of economic growth ended in the mid-1970s, just before the rise of the far-right National Front, now known as the National Rally. This shift in immigration patterns has led to a focus on foreign students and family-linked arrivals rather than migrant workers. According to economist Auriol, immigrants are now primarily brought in to join their spouses rather than for employment purposes. The outcome is that France has a less varied immigration population compared to other wealthy countries. In 2019, over 40% of all new arrivals were from Africa, particularly from Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, based on government statistics. This lack of diversity, along with the clustering of immigrants in major cities like Paris, contributes to concerns about immigration, as explained by Patrick Weil, an immigration historian at Panthéon-Sorbonne University in Paris and Yale. While anti-immigrant sentiments were evident in former President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign, immigration in France, closely tied to its colonial past, particularly in Algeria and other Muslim countries, makes it a more sensitive issue, according to Weil. "In France, immigration and religion are intertwined, unlike in the United States where they are separate," Weil stated. Auriol, an economist, stated that fears about immigration and the preservation of France's Christian heritage hinder discussions about reforming immigration policies to attract qualified foreign immigrants. She believes that current policies are holding back economic growth and the recovery from the pandemic. While some changes have been made recently, they are not enough to bring in the motivated, skilled immigrants that France needs for innovation. Auriol also mentioned that France struggles to attract citizens from other EU nations due to the anti-immigrant sentiment, and has a low retention rate of foreign students post-graduation. "In the 20th century, Paris attracted talented individuals from all over the world," she remarked. "These immigrants played a significant role in France's economic, scientific, and cultural achievements. We used to be an inclusive nation. How did we lose that?" © 2021 The New York Times Company.