Cry Freedom

September 2025

Cry Freedom

She told the story
I listened with my eyes closed
So sad but so true
She whispered softly
I asked her why she did so
She knew that I knew
She was a skater
The ice was her second home
The country’s finest
Everyone could see
She had a plan
To break across the border
Instead of waiting for
The powers that be
Cry freedom, sweet freedom
Tell the whole world
To get ready
Cry freedom, sweet freedom
Tell the whole world
That we’re ready
She said goodnight
But just as I was leaving
A black car came into view
And waiting there
They could hear me breathing
They knew that I knew, cry freedom
Insane questions
They asked me what did I know
So strange, they let me go
But more they try
The stronger our love grows
I know that I know. Cry freedom
Cry freedom, sweet freedom …

WIKIPEDIA

Raging Silence is the 17th album by British Rock group Uriah Heep. It marked the studio debut of Canadian vocalist Bernie Shaw and keyboardist Phil Lanzon, both of whom have remained with the band since. It was produced by Richard Dodd and the title is an allusion to the Manfred Man’s Earth Band album The Roaring Silence (1976).

“Cry Freedom” is the fifth track on this album, released on April 24th, 1989. I discovered this British band during my early years of college. I still listen to some of their albums with admiration. I find the group totally underrated, regardless of which lineup it is throughout their 50 years of existence.

The lyrics of the song are close to the message I want to convey. They can be taken literally, as I have helped undocumented aliens for 30 years. They can be taken figuratively: arbitrary arrests, the desire to flee to another country. Indeed, this desire to flee is bigger than romantic love; staying behind, being a champion. Being famous is not enough to keep you there.

The song apparently describes an Eastern European ice skater hoping to flee to a Western country to be free and safe. After WWII, Europe was divided into two with a no-man’s-land in between, guarded by lookout towers and barbed wire. The best-known section was the Berlin Wall. Eastern Europe was under the authority of the Communist USSR regime in Moscow. When the song was made, athletes defecting from East Bloc countries by staying in a Western country after a competition generally received immediate refugee status. Such people fled their countries by the thousands. Some became American world champions, such as the tennis player Martina Navratilova, born a citizen of Czechoslovakia.

Many people never meet a newly arrived refugee. The media may have shown people entering in large numbers and described them as a gang ready to invade the country. It takes time to listen to their story, one person at a time. Even though there are usually similarities, each story is unique because these people are unique individuals. Depending on what happened in their life and the description they provide of their situation in their home country, they may or may not qualify as a refugee, asylum seeker, or for another legal immigration status. I strongly believe in due process, giving everyone a fair chance to explain their situation in detail.

This does take time and a large amount of staff. In France, the process involves two levels of administrative procedure – OFPRA (Office for the protection of refugees and stateless persons) and the Commission de Recours, and then going to court, with its three levels of jurisdiction. The prefectures handle requests by undocumented aliens who never got an immigration visa to start with, but who comply with specific provisions of the law. The current French government is seeking to modify the legislation to make it more difficult to comply.

There is a lot of pain and suffering right now in many countries. The French media keeps talking about a general strike on 10 September that supposedly will put France on its knees. I doubt it is going to be that extensive. At the same time, we should be ready to face difficult times for a couple of months, maybe longer. There is growing pain and anger in France, reaching the point where people could increase their demonstrations and strikes, and, sadly, violence could occasionally break out.

I do not see an end anytime soon to the issues behind “Crying Freedom,” however you relate the song to situations throughout the world.

BORN IN THE USA VERSUS BORN FRENCH
The above discussion leads me to this topic. The USA and France are both countries of immigration, built through history by people coming from other lands. Wave after wave of those populations find their way, facing some resistance and difficulties in fitting in. So there are grounds for comparing how these two countries define nationality and how it is obtained.

The USA specifies three ways to become American:
Be born in the USA
Be born to an American parent anywhere in the world
Be naturalized.

France defines four ways to become French:
Be born in France of two foreign parents and confirm one’s French nationality at ages 13 and 18
Be born to a French parent anywhere in the world
Marry a French citizen living in France or anywhere else
Be naturalized.

Written as lists, these criteria look somewhat similar. But in reality, there are huge differences between the two countries in terms of what is seen as a “real” American or French person. The most visible one is that in the USA, it feels like everybody owns an American flag, and there are flags pretty much everywhere. It is easy to get the impression that everything you see bears the flag. In France, aside from public buildings, public ceremonies, and soccer victories, the French flag is nowhere to be found. That example is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to US-French differences.

Media coverage of the executive decision in the USA challenging birthright citizenship made me think deeper about how a country of immigration views citizenship. For several months, there has been an intense discussion in the USA, including a Supreme Court decision, about American citizenship linked to simply being born on American territory. I prefer to avoid discussing the legal court cases and debates on both sides of the aisle about birthright citizenship.

On the American side, the song “Born in the U.S.A.” immediately comes to mind. It is the title track of Bruce Springsteen’s seventh album, released on June 4th, 1984. The song vividly describes a physical connection, almost like there is a body chained to the land, and being proud of where one was born in the USA. The lyrics are often misunderstood, but it is undeniable that they refer to a strong link between American birth, what one expects to get from it, and the disillusionment when those expectations are not met. We might also mention Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, the focus on his birth certificate, and the fact that many Americans believe he was not born in the USA. Aside from the fact that American birth is a constitutional requirement for becoming president, the viciousness of the attacks indicated that some people were not ready for a non-white president.

By contrast, no one in France is inclined to think that being born in France is what makes you French. Being born French is more important for some people because it sets these French-born people apart from those who are naturalized. Here is how I would define French nationality:

French nationality is linked to a shared national history and therefore adherence to a broad set of values, including the top values of the Republic: liberty, equality, and fraternity.

Few people remember that the 1848 French Revolution, which lasted only three days, began on February 22nd as a large-scale protest against the government and ended on February 24th with the abdication of King Louis-Philippe. It triggered a gigantic shock wave aspiring to freedom, liberty, and democracy throughout Europe. In some ways, the phenomenon was similar to the way the 1968 hippy movement began in California and shook the world. For at least a century, people who were born in a different country, with no family ties to France, have grown up feeling French because they shared French visions and values, and have moved to France to be where they feel they belong.

For example, Eva Joly, born Gro Eva Farseth in Norway, is a former French magistrate who became a politician in France. She was a member of the European Parliament from 2009 to 2019. She also ran as a candidate for Europe Écologie –Les Verts in the 2012 presidential election. During that entire campaign, no one ever questioned her legitimacy as a candidate to become the next French president. She became French in her 20s through marriage to a Frenchman.

THANKS, EVERYBODY, FOR CARING FOR ME AFTER MY ACCIDENT 
On June 17th, I fell and hurt myself pretty badly. An ambulance took me to the emergency room of the nearby Saint Antoine Hospital. I walked out with a sling and my right arm immobilized. The accident had an immediate and long-lasting effect on my life. I had gone through life without ever going to an emergency room and being on sick leave afterward. I have had a couple of surgeries, but I was not handicapped with an immobilized limb.

Typing on my computer was difficult. I could not ride my bicycle and had to use public transport. I did not cancel any client appointments but handled them as best I could. It came as a shock. No need to detail all I went through to adjust to this new way of life; I had a difficult time accepting it. I posted my picture wearing the sling as quickly as possible on Facebook because I wanted people to know I would be less efficient for a while. I never expected the outpouring of love and care on my page, as well as the calls, messages, and people offering to help. This was unsettling for someone who helps and cares for a living and has a ministry doing the same thing; it swept me away. I was not used to it.

Then came my birthday on June 29th and a second wave of best wishes and get-well messages, just like the first time. I cannot thank you enough, everybody. I tried to answer every single person, but I am sure I missed a couple. It made up for the fact that this year I had no celebration, but I did not mind. The office was scheduled to close anyway on July 4th, so I left Paris a tad early to get to the countryside, where it would be easier to handle the situation.

I was off the sling by July 17th, and the physical therapy started a few days later in the small town, Cluny, where I spent my entire summer. I am slowly getting back in shape, still experiencing some pain. There should not be any lasting effect; it is just getting the muscles and tendons back to work.

Feeling vulnerable, feeling handicapped, even though it was a tiny thing compared to a real permanent disability, made me think of my physical strength, which can disappear in the blink of an eye. Turning 66 while wearing a sling made me think twice.

Today I want to pour out my thanks, love, and care to all of you who were so sweet and caring. It is a very different feeling I want to share with you, having been on the receiving end for once.

A NEW PROCEDURE FOR RENEWING THE CARTE DE RESIDENT
For a while, renewing a carte de résident at the Paris prefecture started by booking an appointment on the prefecture website. At the appointment, the required documents were minimal: passport, carte de résident, and a recent proof of address, i.e., less than three months.

This followed the letter of the law, as the burden of proof is on the state to show that the candidate is disqualified from renewing the card. The state has the right to do so in three cases: when the person has engaged in terrorist activities, has served a prison term in France, or has lived outside France for at least three years as a non-fiscal resident.

Now the procedure starts with filling out a form on the ANEF website. The candidate must then submit the last three French income tax notices (avis d’imposition sur le revenu), which prove fiscal residence. For most people, it is not an inconvenience to add these documents to the file. There are people holding the carte de résident who live in another country and want to move back to France in time to renew it. I used to advise them to come about 18 months before the expected date of the appointment so that there was at least one “avis d’imposition” on the record, as the prefecture does a background check before issuing the new card.

This is no longer possible. The new requirement is that the applicant must have lived in France for the better part of the past four years. And nothing prevents them from asking for seven avis d’imposition.

Now, the following information is critical and should be disseminated as widely as possible. When an applicant does not qualify for renewal of the carte de résident because of insufficient years of presence in France, I strongly advise submitting the request anyway. The law states that, in such cases, the applicant MUST receive a private life (vie privée et familiale) carte de séjour. As long as the applicant proves current legal and fiscal residence in France when submitting the renewal request, the prefecture will issue a vie privée card. The key point is that this card grants all the same broad rights to work in France as the carte de résident, so nothing changes in daily life. It just means renewing more often and being more in contact with the prefecture. All things considered, that is a small inconvenience compared to the total loss of the immigration status if the person thinks all is lost and does not apply at all.

Considering the desire expressed by some living in France wanting to live in Europe and therefore in France, holding a valid carte de résident allows you to come back for sure. You should not be worried about what happens next, you will have the right to stay in France.

ARE AMERICANS REALLY MOVING OUT OF THE USA?
In June 2003, I met Maître Christophe Jean when he opened his law firm in the 17th arrondissement. I have referred people to his firm ever since.

All the professionals who deal with French immigration procedures are seeing a surge in requests from Americans wanting to move out of the USA. I have seen it myself, even though my clientele and marketing exposure set me apart (I avoid digital marketing, for one thing). I am now getting messages from clients who contacted me several years ago, telling me the plan to move to France that they started then is happening now. Eventually, we will see how many stay in France and elsewhere in Europe (the same trend has been observed in other countries over the past three years). I would just point out that France is by no means “liberal” as Americans define the term; France is French first and foremost. Its social democratic structure does indeed offer numerous programs, rights, and services that American liberals wish for in the USA. But everything is done the French way for French people.

Maître Jean has had an international clientele from the beginning, as he holds an LLM from Tulane Law School in New Orleans, as well as being a fully licensed French lawyer. He believes the recent surge is necessarily accompanied by increased demand by Americans for lodging in France. Hence, he has started a new business in real estate. The idea is that a lawyer finds the property and secures the transaction through a separate corporation dedicated to this service. The new firm is called Lex Realty. Here is its website:
https://lex-realty.com

USAID DEFUNDING LED TO INCREASED FAMILY FINANCIAL AID TRANSFERS – WHICH WILL SOON BE TAXED
Except from the Bright!Tax, website:
Just when you thought U.S. tax policy couldn’t get any more complicated, Congress has passed a major change: a federal remittance tax on money sent abroad. Starting January 1, 2026, anyone wiring funds out of the United States – including U.S. citizens, green card holders, and even non-citizens will face a new 1% tax on qualifying transfers when they send money overseas.

Why does this matter? For expats, cross-border families, and anyone relying on international money transfers, this is more than just another fee. The remittance tax adds a new layer of cost on top of already complex reporting rules, and it hits everything from family support to tuition.

Here’s what you need to know about the new remittance tax, who it affects, and what steps you should consider before your next international transfer.

What is a remittance tax?

When you send money from the U.S. to another country – whether it’s helping out family or paying for tuition – you are making what is known as a remittance. Traditionally, these transfers weren’t taxed by the U.S. government. But thanks to a new law passed by the House of Representatives in July 2025, that has changed.

A remittance tax is a federal excise tax applied directly to outbound money transfers. Unlike a typical use tax or sales tax, this one isn’t tied to what you buy or earn –It is simply a fee charged on qualifying funds sent overseas. The goal? To increase tax payments to the Treasury, crack down on money laundering, and give the government more insight into international money flows.
https://brighttax.com/blog/remittance-tax/#:~:text=Starting%20January%201%2C%202026%2C%20anyone,when%20they%20send%20money%20overseas

This will have a significant and immediate impact on American citizens living outside the USA, whether they work or are retired. The usual way people now handle the situation is to arrange for money to be sent to their American checking account, from which it is transferred to their French account when needed, with a good exchange rate if possible. This was a way to minimize the exchange rate variations between the two currencies. I would like to know if the tax will be owed on IRS refunds or Social Security payments when the payment is sent directly to the French bank account.

Below is a link to a French article focusing on the impact of the tax on foreigners and naturalized Americans who send significant amounts of money to their families in their countries of origin. Since the almost total defunding of USAID earlier this year, many foreign-born people in the USA have increased their support in an effort to partially offset the lost support. As of next year, they will also have to pay the new remittance tax on these transfers. No doubt the US federal government will rejoice in the increased revenue, and I imagine a significant portion of the American population will approve of this extra hardship on the foreign-born.
www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2025/07/24/aux-etats-unis-la-diaspora-africaine-fragilisee-par-la-nouvelle-taxe-sur-les-envois-d-argent-a-l-etranger_6623496_3212.html

Best regards,