In response to a significant migratory influx, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has announced the deployment of 150 additional police and gendarmes in the Alpes-Maritimes. This statement was made in a context of tension in the department.
Elisabeth Borne announced, Wednesday April 26 at noon, a reinforcement of law enforcement in the Alpes-Maritimes. 150 police officers and gendarmes are expected to be deployed to face “increased migratory pressure at the Italian border.” The mobilization is planned for as soon as next week. At the same time as this announcement, the head of the government also took the opportunity to announce the postponement of the immigration law. The project, desired by Emmanuel Macron, is delayed until the fall, as it does not have the majority in the National Assembly to be voted.
Meanwhile, on April 26, the Italian police revealed they had dismantled a migrant smuggling network mostly heading towards France. 17 people were arrested, mainly originating from Francophone Africa. Francesco Messina, a senior official in the Italian police, stated to the press that “hundreds of people,” arriving from Africa, have been moved to a European country of their choice, “mostly France.”
Foreign minor migrants moved to La Trinité
In the meantime, on the ground, foreign isolated minor migrants, known as MNA, had been housed in the Caraï gymnasium in Menton as of April 19. The department’s prefect, Bernard Gonzalez, decreed that this Thursday, April 27, marks the end of the requisition of this municipal facility.
On a decision by Renaud Muselier, they were moved to La Trinité, to the Fort de la Drète. The decision by the president of the Alpes-Maritimes Departmental Council has sparked strong reactions in the local political sphere.
Strong reactions from the right and far right
While calling for the closure of the center and the express expulsion of potential adults through a series of video posts on her Twitter account on April 20, the RN deputy of Alpes-Maritimes, Alexandra Masson, claims victory. Having also written a letter to the prefect a few days before, she shares her relief online. “The City of Menton is not and will never be intended to become a camp for migrants or a new Calais,” she declares.
In a joint press release, Franck Allisio and Virginie Leclerc Escalier lament “a dangerous choice given the already existing security problems in this sector of Nice-East.” “Moving the problem is not solving it!’’ exclaim the president of the Rassemblement National group and the municipal councilor of La Trinité. They urge the president to take action to “put an end to this modern-day human trafficking.”
The Reconquête 06 group also celebrates this victory. However, it laments “the government’s weakness in the face of the ongoing migratory wave and the complicity of the LR President of the Departmental Council, who multiplies requisitions of buildings to accommodate migrants in many communes of the Alpes-Maritimes.”
“A referendum on immigration”
Before Elisabeth Borne’s announcement, Éric Ciotti, deputy of Alpes-Maritimes, spoke on Europe 1 radio on the morning of April 26, about this “imposed” migratory wave. The president of the Republicans describes an uncontrollable situation. He deplores the “considerable cost” to the community of housing isolated foreign minors, citing a figure of 15 million euros.
He calls for a “revolution in migration policy.” In this sense, the right-winger “proposes a referendum on immigration to change the framework and amend our constitution.”
“Extreme right and far right converge to fuel fears and prevent the integration of young exiles.” The collective Everyone Citizens! cries out against disinformation and xenophobia. That is why its members are calling for their press release to be signed, which the UD CGT 06 unions and the CCFD-Terre Solidaire of 06 have just joined.
“The entry of an unaccompanied minor into France is not an irregular or illegal entry. Any minor without a parent or legal guardian has a right to child protection until they reach adulthood, and it is the honor of the French social model to protect them,” the collective reminds.
