Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned in a report Monday that a French immigration bill under consideration threatens to curtail human rights.

HRW says the bill, which is currently before the French Senate, would weaken safeguards for foreign nationals being deported, allow the rejection of residence permits for failing to comply with France’s values, place greater restrictions on appeal rights and administrative procedures, and limit protections for migrant children. The bill would also reduce the number of judges hearing asylum appeals to one and limit access to specialist judges. Le Monde reported that, among other provisions, the bill introduces a one-year residence permit for undocumented migrants in certain high-demand industries who meet certain criteria. The bill also seeks to simplify the administrative aspect of immigration by increasing efficiency and reducing the number of procedures available to those engaging in immigration litigation.

The French Defender of Rights and UNICEF have criticized the bill, with UNICEF drawing attention to potential conflicts with France’s international legal obligations, such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

HRW’s Eva Cossé stated that “[the] French authorities are trying again to put forward a deeply flawed set of immigration measures … Dividing families and watering down rights for asylum seekers is not the answer to the country’s security concerns.”

Gérald Darmanin, the French interior minister, said the proposed law seeks to be “firm on immigration” and is targeted at “being tougher on foreigners who commit crimes, expelling them all.” Darmanin also claimed that the bill recognizes those who entered France illegally but seek to “regularize.” French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said the bill would be advantageous to those “who’ve been on our territory for years, who are well integrated.”