GOP Lawmaker Links France Riots to Mass Migration, Warns US Could Face Similar Unrest
Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, argues that France is 'reaping what they sowed' and that the U.S. should heed the lessons from the ongoing unrest.
Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, a senior Republican overseeing Europe policy, has attributed the recent violent riots in France to mass migration and cautioned that the United States could face similar consequences if it does not address its own immigration challenges. Self, who chairs the Subcommittee on Europe in the House Foreign Affairs Committee and co-founded the Sharia-Free America Caucus, stated that the demonstrations are a predictable outcome of years of unchecked migration policies.
"We're also trying to get a handle on our mass migration consequences, just like France should have done years ago," Self told Fox News Digital. "That's why I say this is a lesson to America. We are watching the future of America in France and the U.K., frankly."
France has been grappling with widespread protests and riots that have led to torched cars, ransacked businesses, and damage to historic buildings. While French officials have pointed to far-left groups exacerbating tensions over socioeconomic issues, Self suggested that the growing Muslim population in France, which he estimated at around 7%, contributes to the unrest, particularly when concentrated in urban areas.
"This is what you get when you think that everyone is culturally and morally equivalent. They're not," Self asserted. "And at some point, you have got to make the decision: Are we going to defend a Christian heritage in France, or are we not?"
Despite characterizing the situation in France as bordering on "civil war," Self indicated that the U.S. should offer intelligence-gathering assistance to its ally. He also commented that French President Emmanuel Macron's resignation might be beneficial for France.
The protests in France have seen over 500,000 people demonstrate nationwide, with more than 1,800 arrests made. Images of protesters carrying flags from various North African and Middle Eastern countries have fueled right-wing critiques of France's immigration policies.
In response to the unrest, the Louvre Museum in Paris announced it would close temporarily. The situation has drawn parallels to concerns about assimilation and national identity being debated in other European countries and by political figures in the U.S.