Illegal immigration: how the France is trying to close the border with Italy

5/9/2023, 5:46:18 PM

Highlights: More than 42,000 people have arrived in Italy since the beginning of the year, compared to 11,000 for the same period last year. A record influx is a source of strong tensions between France and Italy. They even turned into a diplomatic crisis last week, when Gérald Darmanin said that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was "unable to solve migration problems" A dozen mobile force vans have been sent to Menton to deal with the influx.

REPORT - Against the backdrop of a diplomatic crisis between the two countries, reinforcements have arrived in Menton to deal with an ever-increasing influx of illegal immigrants.

In Menton (Alpes-Maritimes)

He has swapped the earthenware sky of the Paris metro for the azure one of the Mediterranean, and the hunt for pickpockets for the "LIC", the fight against illegal immigration. Philippe, 45, formerly of BAC 75 who prefers not to be named, is now a brigadier-chief at the border police (PAF) in Menton.

Nicknamed the "Pearl of France", the town located on the Franco-Italian border is also a privileged entry point for candidates for exile from Africa or Asia. More and more illegal immigrants since, since the beginning of the year, more than 42,000 people have arrived in Italy, compared to 11,000 for the same period last year.

A record influx is a source of strong tensions between France and Italy. They even turned into a diplomatic crisis last week, when Gérald Darmanin said on RMC that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was "unable to solve migration problems".

A dozen mobile force vans

This Saturday of long weekend...

This article is for subscribers only. You still have 87% to discover.

Want to read more?

Unblock all items immediately.

TEST FOR 0,99€

Already a subscriber? Log