Éric Zemmour, leader of the Reconquête political party in France, stated during a televised interview on September 17 that the number of legal immigrants entering the country has grown from "100,000 to 500,000" over the past 30 years. He attributed this rise to Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of the Leftist party LFI, suggesting that policies promoted by Mélenchon have contributed to the increase in immigration. According to data from Insee, France’s national statistics office, the number of legal immigrants entering France in 2000 was 97,083, a figure close to the 100,000 Zemmour mentioned. However, between 2004 and 2012, the annual number of legal immigrant entries averaged around 200,000. This number rose significantly in recent years, reaching 347,000 in 2023, according to Insee. In 2025, the Ministry of the Interior reported that 377,000 first residence permits were issued, showing a continued upward trend. While the number of legal immigrants has increased over the past three decades, the growth is not as dramatic as Zemmour claimed. Zemmour has made immigration a central theme of his political platform, often criticizing what he views as excessive immigration and its impact on French society. He has previously faced legal consequences for his rhetoric, including a 2020 conviction for incitement to hatred after making controversial remarks about unaccompanied minors. This history has drawn attention to the tone and content of his public statements on immigration. The discrepancy between Zemmour’s claims and official statistics has sparked debate about the accuracy of political statements on immigration. While the data confirms a rise in legal immigration over the years, the exact figures and the factors driving the increase remain subjects of discussion among policymakers and the public.