Immigration: the fragile success of the distribution of asylum seekers in France

Two weeks ago, the resounding resignation of the mayor of Saint-Brévin, Yannick Morez, has shown it: the installation or extension of reception centers for asylum seekers (Cada) in French municipalities arouses tensions, fueled and exploited by the extreme LAW. However, the system put in place from 2021, called “directive orientation” and intended to better distribute asylum seekers on French territory, has proven its worth, according to a parliamentary report carried out by two Renaissance deputies, Mathieu Lefèvre and Stella Dupont.

The first objective, that of relieving congestion in the Ile-de-France region, has been achieved: according to the data examined by the report, the proportion of asylum seekers residing in Ile-de-France has fallen from almost half to one third. “The noose on Île-de-France has been loosened. Which is a good thing because the worst way to start an integration process is to do it on a camp near a highway”, welcomes Mathieu Lefèvre to “Echos”.

Sharp increase in asylum applications

In a context of sharp rise in asylum applications , which had declined during the Covid 19 epidemic, the success of this system remains fragile and its fluidity remains essential, according to the report. Informing the inhabitants and supporting local elected officials are fundamental: hearing last week in the Senate, the resigning mayor of Saint-Brévin denounced the “flagrant” lack of support from the State and accused the prefect of Loire-Atlantique of lies. On the defensive, the government was forced to react, launching a series of measures to protect local elected officials .

Saint-Brévin was not the only town affected by the tensions and demonstrations against the Cada. In Callac, in Brittany, the town hall had to give up its project. The trend remains, however, for a sharp increase in asylum applications. The creation of 8,500 places in accommodation centers by 2023 was approved at the end of 2020.

The treatment of asylum has already been invited into the debate on immigration. In their proposals unveiled on Sunday in “Le JDD”, Les Républicains want asylum applications to be processed outside French borders, particularly in embies. In Great Britain, the government of Rishi Sunak plans to “outsourcing” asylum applications in Rwanda . Announced a year ago under the government of Boris Johnson, the agreement with the African country has not yet materialized.

The proposal is deemed inadmissible on this side of the Channel. “It can’t work. And we must not forget that asylum seekers are often in an emergency situation,” warns Mathieu Lefèvre. But it will not fail to be debated.