France's immigration minister orders arrests

France’s new immigration minister today ordered stepped-up arrests and expulsions of illegal immigrants and, in a clear toughening of the French approach to the problem, set quotas for police and customs officers to fulfil by the end of the year.

Brice Hortefeux, who heads the newly created Ministry of Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Co-Development, said a monthly quota also would be set for ferreting out those employed here illegally.