Migrants: The State is requesting that more than 12,000 reception places be created by the prefects across France by the end of the year. Objective? Gradually close the “Calais jungle” and distribute the migrants across the entire territory to minimize negative effects.
Easy to say, almost impossible to do: everyone defends their own area and especially during a pre-election period, communities governed by the right will make no concessions.
Take for example the PACA Region (nearly 5 million inhabitants): the plan provides for the creation of 949 places in reception and orientation centers.
Reaction from its president Christian Estrosi: The plan proposed by @BCazeneuve is unacceptable! I refuse the creation of micro jungles from #Calais in our country.
Eric Ciotti, Mister Authority of Les Républicains: “I denounce the government’s intention to multiply ‘small Calais’ and exacerbate tensions all over France.”
Is the situation in the department so catastrophic?
“From 60 to 150 foreigners, mainly fleeing unstable African countries, are apprehended every day near the Italian border, increasingly attempting to enter France via the mountains,” said the prosecutor of Nice a few days ago.
The number of arrests is “equivalent to last year, with 1% more,” he said. 30% of the arrests occur elsewhere than train stations, trains, or highways.
According to the prefecture, since the beginning of the year, 18,662 migrants have been apprehended, an increase of 8% compared to the same period in 2015.
95% are turned back to Italy since the closure of French borders decreed at the end of 2015 and extended after the attack committed in Nice on July 14. Last year, the readmission rate to Italy was 60 to 70%.
The more significant problem is that of smugglers, real organized criminals who exploit the misery of migrants, who are above all the victims: a crossing from one side to the other of the Mediterranean costs between 3,000 and 6,000 dollars.
Many smugglers operate through organized networks capable, in some cases, of taking charge from the moment someone disembarks on a southern Italian beach and selling them a complete package, transport through Italy, crossing the border into France, and being taken to unknown destinations,” the prosecutor explained.
Perhaps this is the direction to move towards and allocate resources rather than waging battles against poor people who, in any case, have already arrived on national territory and won’t just disappear.
And instead of just saying “no,” are there other ideas to put on the table?
