France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez estimated on Wednesday that about 700,000 foreigners are living in the country without legal status, reaffirming the government’s commitment to fighting illegal immigration amid mounting pressure from the far-right National Rally (RN).
Speaking on CNews and Europe 1, Nuñez corrected a lower figure of 200,000 to 300,000 mentioned earlier this week, saying he had avoided giving a number previously to prevent “fueling controversy.” The minister’s clarification followed criticism from RN president Jordan Bardella, who accused him of “inaction” and demanded a “precise assessment” of the number of undocumented migrants in France.
Nuñez said that only estimates exist, citing earlier statements from former interior minister Gérald Darmanin, who also gave a figure of around 700,000 in 2021. “If we work seriously using data such as State Medical Aid and extrapolate, the estimate stands at 700,000,” Nuñez said, adding that a range between 600,000 and 900,000 would be “coherent.”
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