It's in the genes..

It's official: the French Senate has voted in favor of a controversial new law that would introduce genetic testing for would-be migrants that want to be reunited with their families in France. The test would be applied only in cases where authorities were unsure of an existing blood relation. The government had introduced the proposal pointing to twelve other EU countries in which this practice is already being applied. We reported the story in an earlier post, including the public outcry the proposal has caused among migrant support groups, such as SOS Racisme, who had launched a petition against article 5 of an entire package of legal measures to curtail immigration to France. The French parliament had already voted in favor of the proposal, though the Senate has watered down immigration minister, Brice Hortefeux's original plans. Once the Senate has debated all elements of this new immigration law, it goes back to the conciliation committee, though the government is expected to accept the changes the Senate has made to the article 5 provisions.

Let's take a look at the amendments to the new law:

• Contrary to what was originally proposed, DNA samples will only be collected from those that consent to the procedure.
• Children's DNA will only be compared to that of their mother to avoid uncovering the paternity of children born out of wedlock, for instance.
• The government, instead of the individual, as was originally proposed, will have to assume the costs of genetic testing

Aside from immigrant rights groups, the African Union has also been vocal in opposing testing. Senagalese President Abdoulaye Wade has criticised the measure calling it a “serious mistake” and “disrespectful to human freedom.”

Immigrants looking to join their families in France will have to prove their French language skills before entry, while resident families will have to prove they earn at least 1300 Euros, i.e. at least minimum wage to support the new arrivals.

Immigration was a key issue in the French Presidential election and these legal changes are to be just the beginning of a crackdown on illegal immigration in the country.

<> More on this story can be found here:

BBC: France approves migrant DNA tests 

France 24: Senate approves DNA testing for immigrants 

That DNA testing can be a controversial way of deciding immigrant status is the topic of this 2006 article in the Washington Post:

DNA Testing a Mixed Bag for Immigrants