PARIS, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- French government on Wednesday unveiled a new bill to better handle migration crisis and asylum requests, saying it would balance between efficiency and humanity amid growing critics from human rights groups and even from its ranks.
During a cabinet meeting, French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb presented "a totally balanced text" that aims at reinforcing protection of vulnerable persons and minors by facilitating procedures and making easier for them to get asylum.
The bill will also double to 90 days the time in which illegal migrants can be detained, and shorten deadlines to apply for asylum to six months.
The government also wants to make illegal crossing of borders an offence and to quickly send home illegal economic migrants.
"Today, a refugee who is fleeing Syrian hell and wants to be welcomed into our country must wait more than one year before his asylum application is treated. It's not acceptable," Collomb said.
As to the disputed plan to double the time asylum seekers can be held in detention, the minister said "we are simply aligning with the European directive".
In 2017, France registered 17 percent more asylum requests compared to a year earlier, according to figures released by the interior ministry.
Last year, 100,412 people had asked refuge in France, with a lion share of demands coming from Albania, followed by Afghanistan, Syria, Haiti and Sudan.
"One must welcome (migrants), but we must well receive those who have to forge their future in France in a way that ... the French dream become a reality," Collomb told reporters.
However, the new rules triggered critics that may put on test the policy of president Emmanuel Macron, already suffering a setback.
To Cimade charity, one of France's main group which helps migrants and asylum seekers, the text represented "a sharp decline in ( migrants) rights".
"If adopted ... it will considerably degrade the situation of a very large numbers of foreigners, by weakening guarantees and fundamental rights and increasing institutional abuse," it said in a statement, calling for the text withdrawal.
In a further sign of mounting critics, staff of French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (Ofpra), went on strike on Wednesday to protest the government's new migration rules.
Speaking to RMC radio, Eric Coquerel, hard-left lawmaker denounced "inhuman, unrealistic" plan that according to him would "create disorder."
"As long as we have not resolved the causes of the problem: climate change, wars, ruined economies, we must welcome the consequences of problems that often create," he said.
Even in the ruling camp "The Republic on the Move" (LERM), the text was disapproved.
During a recent parliamentary debate, Sonia Krimi said the government's proposed rules "are unworthy of our Republic".
"Not all foreigners in France are terrorists, not all foreigners cheat with social welfare. Saying the opposite is playing with people's fears," she said.
Jean-Michel Clement, a former Socialist who joined the centrist LERM party, was quoted as saying by local media "the most vulnerable will be punished".
The migration and asylum bill will be presented to the National Assembly in April.
