The Court of Auditors has just published its report on the fight against irregular immigration, and recommends better organization of state services. On the aspect of “obligations to leave French territory” (OQTF), of which only 10% were executed in 2022, the Court recommends strengthening return aid. That is to say offering a sum, around 1,000 euros, to help someone organize their return to their country of origin.
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If there are so few obligations to leave French territory (OQTF) executed, it is due to a lack of coordination between the different actors in the fight against irregular immigration, that is to say the Ministry of the Interior, that of foreign affairs and the prefects, says the Court of Auditors in a report which appears two weeks after the adoption of the law on immigration. It recommends a clear and common strategy to improve efficiency.
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This law should above all make it possible, according to the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin, to expel “delinquent” foreigners more effectively. In 2022, 153,042 removal orders were issued, including 134,280 obligations to leave French territory (OQTF). “ Only a small minority – around 10% – of OQTFs are executed », observes the Court of Auditors. Since the summer of 2022, the authorities have focused their efforts on profiles presenting a threat to public order or having been criminally convicted, a “relevant prioritization”, believe the authors of the report.
However, this Thursday, January 4, the Ministry of the Interior “ felicity » of a 30% increase over one year in expulsions of “delinquent foreigners”, with 4,686 people expelled in 2023 compared to 3,615 in 2022.
Ineffective expulsions
The question of country of origin poses a problem: when it is a country at war or a country which refuses to grant a consular pass; it is impossible for France to expel the person concerned. In addition, the number of eviction procedures initiated “ congests the prefectures ” Who ” sometimes issue OQTFs to people integrated into society ” Or ” which cannot be moved away », for example nationals of countries at war.
For the Court of Auditors, efforts must be made regarding voluntary returns. In other words, the assistance provided to foreigners who agree to return to their country of origin.
In its report, the Court notes that because the amount of this aid has decreased in recent years, it is less in demand. “ French return aid is less attractive, for example, than that of Germany, five times more return aid in Germany than in France. It is a subject, I think, on which we must meditate, which will not represent significant costs », Underlines Pierre Moscovici, first president of the Court of Auditors.
According to the report from the Court of Auditors, forced removal costs around 4,000 euros per person expelled. Return assistance is four times less, 1,000 euros on average.
(With AFP)
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