In France, several irregularities were noted during the Olympic Games in administrative detention centers (CRA) and in particular in Mesnil-Amelot. Located north of Paris, the second largest center in Île-de-France welcomes foreign nationals before their expulsion from French territory. The teams of Cimade, an association for access to rights, present on site, reported several abnormal situations this summer.
4 mins
The placement in detention has ” significantly increased ” these last two months in Franceobserves Nancya Zeglil, legal advisor for Cimade, an association providing access to the law and support for people in an irregular situation. As of August 13, 2024, between the Olympic Games and Paralympic, CRA No. 2 had a total of 113 detainees and CRA No. 3 had a total of 111 detainees, out of a maximum capacity of 120 people. Unprecedented since the Covid period. We barely exceed 90she points out. It really had an impact on the conditions of confinement. There was a lot of violence between detainees, but also between the detainees and law enforcement. It was a very hot period, and the conditions of access to water At the CRA it is really disastrous. Already at the beginning of July, they were really struggling, during the high temperatures, to be able to hydrate themselves, drink water and even take showers properly. »
A dedicated Olympic space
” We’ve had quite a few arrests related to the Olympicssays the legal advisor. Two Brazilians were arrested on suspicion of fraud while trying to change their tickets to near a test site in Paris. They saw each other notify an OQTF (obligation to leave French territory), without a voluntary departure period, with immediate placement in detention for threats to public order, while they had their tickets to return home a few days later. »
Another notable case: an Australian national was illegally expelled from French territory. He had been arrested after trying to enter the Stade de France track during the 100m final. As mentioned on the notification of his OQTF, the law gives him 48 hours to contest the order issued by the Prefecture. But a few hours after his arrival in detention, he was sent back to Australia, before the expiry of this period.
To welcome these “ arrested at the Olympic Games “, the management of the CRA did not hesitate to empty the women’s quarters of Mesnil-Amelot to transform it into a ” JO space “, reports Cimade, which only discovered its existence later. What happened to the reservoirs? ” Some were placed under house arrest, others were released, but the majority were transferred to other CRAs.. » Since there is no other center authorized to receive women in Île-de-France, the choice fell on the detention center of Oissel, Rennes, and that of Metz. The last two are more than 300 km from Paris. An additional injustice for these detainees who are entitled to visits from their loved ones and who can be monitored by local associations.
Also readGuest France: Administrative detention centers, “places worse than prison”
The CRA of Mesnil-Amelot, regularly criticized
In the Latest national report on retention (co-written by La Cimade, France Terre d’Asile, and other associations for access to rights that intervene in CRA), the CRA of Mesnil-Amelot was singled out for several irregularities, particularly in terms of illegal expulsions. Methods that had been recognized by the Ministry of the Interior and which had led to the withdrawal of the Cimade teams, protesting against these illegal practices, in February 2023.
Another black point: the detention of nationals for whom there is no possibility of removal, because sending them back to their country of origin is impossible or too dangerous. In 2023, ” The prefectures had no difficulty in contacting the consular authorities of countries in a high-intensity conflict situation, or with which France had suspended its diplomatic relations, with the aim of expelling these nationals to areas of mortal risk. “, we read in the description sheet of this center, one of the largest in Île-de-France. The summer of 2024 is no exception. ” There were new Haitians. Even though the airport has actually reopened recently, the insurrectional situation remains dangerous. There were also two Sudanese people, a man from South Sudan, two Syrians, two people who come from Afghanistan. and two people coming from Gaza “.
The lawyer for these Palestinian detainees, Mr. Samy Djemaoun, recently recounted on his Twitter account the absurd situation in which his clients found themselves. He also recalls that ” If removal is impossible, administrative detention is unjustified “Returning a national to a country where his or her life is in danger also goes against the European Convention on Human Rights, of which France is a signatory.
Also readRights of foreigners: in France, Cimade denounces increasingly abusive confinement