President Macron plans to dramatically increase the number of illegal migrants expelled from France
The migration policy that Macron has pursued is unprecedented in its harshness in modern French history, Le Monde believes. On Friday evening, December 15, after an interministerial meeting discussing a new "migration" bill, it became clear that supporters of "tougher measures" were prevailing. Moreover, in recent weeks, the number of "sweeps" has increased: for example, in Paris and Calais, police have been instructed to dismantle refugee "camps" and prevent new ones from appearing.
As RFI notes, "camps" are most often dozens or hundreds of tents pitched on the ground. Their inhabitants are increasingly being forcibly taken to police temporary holding centers. In one such center, in the village of Le Mesnil-Amelot, 26 km from Paris, a man has been on a dry hunger strike since the beginning of December. His wife, unlike him, had previously been granted refugee status, meaning she has the right to live in France.
In addition to unofficial "discouraging" actions, documentary work is also being carried out on the migration front: circulars are being issued calling for a dramatic increase in the number of deportations. In one such directive, dated November 20, Interior Minister Gérard Collomb asks prefects to draw up corresponding plans for each department.
Moreover, the Interior Ministry has for the first time decided to check the documents of people who have taken shelter in emergency accommodation centers for the homeless. A corresponding circular was signed by Interior Minister Gérard Collomb and Minister of Regional Development Jacques Mézard on December 12. As emphasized in the directive, the state is not obliged to provide accommodation for individuals who have received an order to leave French territory. Documents will be checked by police officers, who will form special "mobile brigades" for this purpose.
Human rights organizations accused the authorities of "sorting the homeless." "Never before has any government gone this far," writes Le Monde. And it recalls that during the election debates, presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron said that it was "an honor for France to welcome refugees" and promised that if he were elected, "by the end of the year" no one would sleep on the street or in the woods. Now it turns out that Macron probably meant something else by that promise.
Macron's actual migration policy, it seems, rests on three pillars. First, French authorities are trying to do everything possible to ensure that African countries, particularly Libya, tighten border controls and stop the majority of those wishing to come to Europe at that stage. Second, French Interior Minister Gérard Collomb is toughening measures against those who have not been granted asylum. Third, conditions will be improved for those who do receive asylum. But there will be fewer and fewer of them.
To say "no" to this policy, 470 French human rights associations and movements held demonstrations and actions across the country on International Migrants Day. "We want the government to prioritize the rights of migrants and refugees, whatever their status, as required by international human rights instruments," says Jean-François Dubost, head of the exile assistance program at Amnesty International's French branch.