France as a signatory to the Schengen Agreement, has open borders, therefore as far as anyone coming into France is concerned there is no immediate control on who enters the country. Notwithstanding, when/if they find illegal entrants they are dealt with swiftly; there are random ID checks and anyone who is found without the proper papers is kept in custody until their proper ID is confirmed and if necessary repatriated. Not too long ago there were a group of about 24,000 people without proper papers from one particular African area, the ones who had children in schools here were subsequently allowed to stay, about 6,000 in total - the rest were deported to their original country. This does not include anyone from the EEC as they have the 'right' to stay here if they choose, although even as a member of the EEC if they don't speak the language they will have numerous difficulties; they are not automatically entitled to health cover; no rights to Social Security, they would receive NIL from the state. Employment would be out of the question without the language.
Because the UK is not signatory to the Schengen Agreement with regard to the freedom of movement of people, it is up to the UK to protect/police its borders. Anyone leaving the jurisdiction of French Territory, at the ports and the Channel Tunnel, will be subject to strict passport/ID controls...... In the case of the Channel Tunnel following this procedure they automatically enter the UK zone, staffed by UK customs personnel, even though they are still in France; it is up to these UK personnel to enforce controls before embarkation; you may yourself have passed through this, as I have several times. In the case of the ports, at the point of entry, it is the UK authorities who are responsible for controlling who enters the country, just as it is at UK Airports. The reason why the UK is not a full member of Schengen is because they want to retain control at their own borders, although they have adopted some aspects of Schengen cooperation, namely police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters, the fight against drugs and the Schengen Information System (SIS).
France has its own immigrant situation, you may remember the riots in the outskirts of several towns here 2 years ago which were predominantly in 'immigrant areas'. France has also suffered an upturn in crime following the opening of borders with Eastern Block countries. It may surprise you, or not, that France has the largest Muslim population in Europe. The difference here as I've said previously, is that everyone has to speak French; there are definitely no willy nilly handouts; the children have to be educated in French schools; there are no outwardly religious insignia allowed in schools, ie. the veil, the skull cap, the crucifix. People are, of course, allowed to dress as they wish outside of schools. Having said that, as recent as last week a Moroccan woman was denied French Citizenship, despite the fact that she has lived here for several years, married to a French National for 5 years and has children who are obviously French; this was because she wore the burkah, which was regarded as a 'submissive act' and the Council of State, the country's highest administrative court found that this was “incompatible with the essential values of the French community and, notably, the principle of equality of the sexes.” This decision has been applauded throughout France by people on all sides of the political spectrum. The problem that the UK faces sadly is self made; not by the public of course, but by the powers that be who appear to have eroded everyone else's rights whilst appeasing minority groups. The powers that be here would not be tolerated if they did that. When the Sangette Centre was operating near to the Ports at Calais and Boulogne, the French authorities had a modicum of control whereby, intending illegal entrants into the UK , were processed and subsequently dealt with. Mr. Blunkett, the then Home Secretary, in his wisdom; no doubt with the backing of his leader, demanded the closure of this centre. I'm not suggesting that the previous system was fool proof, evidently not ! but it was somewhere where 'illegal' people would be incarcerated. Now the ones that are not picked up and dealt with on this side of the channel are left to their own devices, and those include their absolute resolute to get to the UK because there they receive handouts that are JUST NOT handed out here. I am not for one moment demeaning the apparent problems in the UK, it is very sad for me, looking at news reports and listening to friends, seeing a decline in standards of all kinds ( and not all caused by immigrants) it is certainly not the UK I left 15 years ago. I also appreciate that living in the rural area I do I am somewhat cosseted. Nevertheless, I think if I were a person living in a poverty stricken country, without prospects, no food for me or my family, and someone told me there was a land of milk and honey where everything is provided, I would make a beeline for it too ..... it is the system that is flawed.
