This Friday, November 29, 2024 in Calais, Bruno Retailleau presented, in front of local elected officials and the press, several proposals aimed at stemming the “ migratory disorder » (sic) on the Franco-British border. These draw a purely security line, in continuity with the various xenophobic and anti-immigrant measures that have participated in the bunkering of the Franco-British border since 1999.
Three levels of intervention were thus announced: (1) “Daily security”, (2) “Support for communities and residents”, (3) “Dismantling of networks”. Firstly, on “Daily Security”, 75 police officers will reinforce the border police (PAF) staff, with the aim of strengthening patrols aimed at preventing and preventing departures by “small boat”. In addition, the Dunkirk and Calais police stations will welcome 25 additional national police officers: 10 for Calais and 15 for Dunkirk. Moreover, the CRS cantonment in Calais will receive more funding and the project to build a new police headquarters has been confirmed.
Then, on “Support for communities and residents”, the Minister of the Interior proposes that the British finance a compensation fund for individuals in the event of damage caused by migrants. He also wants funding for the SNSM ( National Sea Rescue Society) and the firefighters of Pas-de-Calais, who carry out 12% of their interventions with exiles.
Finally, on the “Dismantling of networks”, it was announced that 20 additional investigators would join the Office for Combating Smuggling of Migrants: 14 will be assigned to Dunkirk and 6 to Calais. On this same point, he also hopes for British help and has announced that he will meet his British counterpart, Yvette Cooper, on December 9 in Calais. So many measures aim to increase the level of surveillance and repression at the borders.
Clearly, the hunt for migrants is being provided with additional resources at the Franco-British border. The government intends to continue its racist and xenophobic war against migrants, which has already led to 71 people officially dying, almost 80 according to associations for 2024 alone.
Questioned by France 3, members of associations helping migrants denounce these new measures. Indeed, as they explain, the militarization of the border in no way has the effect of preventing people who wish to do so from joining or attempting to join the United Kingdom. Thus, in 2024 alone, 33,000 people managed to reach British shores. The only tangible effect of this militarization is the successive deaths, since it pushes candidates for exile to take ever more risks. An effect that we risk seeing strengthened with this week's announcements.
Faced with this dramatic situation, we must defend a program for the opening of borders and unconditional freedom of movement and settlement for all, the end of racist and security laws, while fighting against imperialism, responsible for the unlivable situations in the countries that people fleeing at the Franco-British border.
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