Facing the numerous deaths of migrants on the road connecting the two countries, a collective is advocating for the creation of a legal and secure passage.
A few weeks ago, a new tragedy occurred near the Italian border. The collective Tous citoyens! expressed their views through a statement on these tragic events impacting the region. The association, chaired by David Nakache, offered solutions to combat these tragedies and pointed out those responsible.
“Two people were struck by a car while walking along the highway near Menton, on foot and in the middle of the night, between Saturday, July 16, and Sunday, July 17, 2022. One of them died, and the other was hospitalized in critical condition. These two people are believed to be exiles seeking refuge in France. This tragedy adds to a very long list of exiles who have died attempting to reach France from Italy: hit by cars, electrocuted in electrical cabinets or on train rooftops, victims of falls in the mountains, etc. When will legal migration routes finally be opened? When will this deadly “legal no man’s land” between the Italian border and Nice be eliminated?
Indeed, a migrant passing through Italy to reach “the land of human rights” must hide to cross the border and must become invisible while covering the 32 km that separate the border from Nice. Once in Nice, they can legally apply for asylum and move freely without being arrested while waiting for their appointment at the Prefecture. These numerous deaths occur in this 32 km legal void, where they are considered clandestine. These deaths are thus the result of a political decision that artificially creates a legal “no man’s land,” an area of administrative irregularity.
Three simple solutions would allow exiles to apply for asylum in France without risking their lives:
- The first consists of reopening this internal European Union border between Italy and France.
- The second involves registering asylum applications at the French border post at the Franco-Italian border by setting up a First Reception Structure for Asylum Seekers (SPADA).
- The third involves issuing passes at the French border post allowing migrants to reach the SPADA of their choice to register their asylum application within a specified timeframe.
Whichever solution is chosen, we ask the State and its representative, the Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes, to create a legal migration route between the Franco-Italian border and Nice to save lives and prevent these numerous tragedies. Requesting asylum is a fundamental right. France must respect the Geneva Convention, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It cannot continue to willingly endanger people who wish to exercise their right to asylum.“
Association Tous citoyens, Nice, 19.07.2022
In support of this call to open a legal migration route between Italy and Nice, a petition has been created on the Change.org website. Over 1000 people have already signed.
