A Devilish Payment for French Kindness

The law discussed in the articles below is similar to the House Bill 4437, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in December 2005, when even the Catholic Church got involved, blasting Congress because those helping undocumented immigrants could be charged with a felony.
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see "Protests Against Solidarity Crime," The Connection, April 9, 2009

“Offence of solidarity” – Délit de Solidarité
a term used to describe a French law that criminalizes those assisting illegal immigrants.
Schott's Vocab Blog
New York Times
April 14, 2009

...According to The Connexion, “anyone who, by direct or indirect help, facilitates or tries to facilitate the entry, the circulation or the unlawful residence of a foreigner in France” is liable to a five-year prison sentence or a $39,000 fine...

In March, the A.P. reported that a 59-year-old volunteer had been arrested by French police and questioned for three hours after allowing illegal immigrants to recharge their cell phones in her home. Although the woman was not indicted, the A.P. said that the incident “exemplifies what humanitarian associations and others contend is a concerted effort to harass volunteers who provide a lifeline, or a simple kindness, to illegal aliens.”...link