French to Trade Immigration Tips for Legal Residency Permits
In an unusual approach to a crime problem that may be of interest elsewhere, a French official has signed a decree rewarding illegal immigrants who agree to serve as witnesses about immigration-related criminal conduct with residency permits good for as long as 10 years.
After police questioning, explains French Immigration Minister Eric Besson, the new policy will give an illegal immigrant “a 30-day period of thinking to allow him to escape from the influence of his exploiters and take the decision to lodge a complaint with the police,” reports ABC News.
Even with the reward of legal residency, however, it isn’t clear that immigrants will rush to cooperate with French authorities, given the risk that they—or their family members—could face retaliation, the network says.
Hat tip: France 24.
Related coverage:
ABA Journal: “Keeping a ‘Snitch’ from Being Scratched”
Miami Herald: ” ‘Stop-snitching’ culture is for cowards only”
