It is not a migration defense council.
But it still looks a bit like this cenacle restricted to a few ministers that the President of the Republic has created to accelerate the implementation of his decisions.
First with the ecological defense council, then with the health defense council.
On Wednesday, Emmanuel Macron gathered at the Élysée Jean Castex, Jean-Yves Le Drian, Gérald Darmanin and the chief of staff of Eric Dupont Moretti.
Matignon, Foreign Affairs, the Interior and Justice to address the sensitive issue of immigration.
"
During the health crisis, migratory flows were considerably reduced
," we observe at the Élysée Palace.
But at the exit, we expect a resumption of migratory pressure for all European countries
”. Including France therefore, as the country enters a presidential year. But "
the acceptability rate of immigration in our country, and in other European countries, is lower and lower,
" says one at the Elysee. As if he was indexed to the progression of Marine Le Pen in the polls. The issue of immigration thus threatens to join that of security, the RN's favorite themes, at the heart of the presidential debate. But on immigration, the ambition of the Head of State isis hit by the health crisis.
In an interview with Valeurs Actuelles magazine during a trip to Mayotte, he set himself the goal of achieving 100% of the obligations to leave French territory (OQTF) at the end of his five-year term. At the time, only 17% were completed. With around 30% today, it is far from it.
"The health crisis has completely changed the situation and the work of the services
", one explains in the entourage of the Head of State. It is now a matter of applying escapes to the border as much as possible, as much as possible. To achieve this, Emmanuel Macron wants to activate two levers, without going through the legislative route for which there is no longer enough time before the end of his mandate.
First of all, the removal of illegal aliens registered for terrorism or radicalization. Of the 1115 names in the file, 514 are still present in the country (“a good part of which are imprisoned”) and 601 have already been deported. Second lever: the expulsion of foreigners having committed crimes or misdemeanors. Deportation proceedings will be initiated, even for those serving a prison sentence. As for those who have been convicted of less serious crimes, "
we will withdraw their protection if they are in a legal situation and expel them if not.
". This is where the difficulty comes in. Some countries of origin of these offenders require that a PCR test be carried out on departure from France before their deportation. However, France cannot impose these tests, which delays the procedures. Hence the close discussions, especially with the Maghreb countries, so that the test is carried out on arrival after expulsion and no longer on departure.
At the end of the day, it is a question of speeding up the obligations of escorting illegal and convicted foreigners to the border. "
We ask the prefects to identify people who pose a problem, whether for questions related to respect for public order or because they do not respect the laws of the Republic, and to prioritize them in the expulsions
" , they say at the Elysee. Wednesday's meeting may not have been a migration defense council, but there will be a new one in two weeks to take stock of the progress of the deportations.