The results of the system of transfers of first-time asylum seekers to the province are "favorable" but suffer from "fragilities", according to a report by deputies who point out in particular that a quarter of asylum seekers requested refuse to be sent to the regions. The State must better inform and protect mayors and must better coordinate with municipalities transfers, also stresses this information report, which AFP was able to consult and must be communicated this Tuesday evening to the Minister of the Interior in the Finance Committee of the National Assembly.
In the document, the deputies of the majority Stella Dupont and Mathieu Lefèvre believe that the device put in place for two years (2021-2023) "has proven its usefulness and effectiveness". However, they identify "fragilities" and "tensions", at a time when these transfers are "the subject of political instrumentalization that has led to threats and violence" against elected officials, which culminated in the recent resignation of the mayor of Saint-Brévin-les-Pins, Loire-Atlantique.
'Guidelines'
Since January 2021, the "directive guidelines" have made it possible to transfer first-time asylum seekers to the province, to relieve congestion on Île-de-France where migrant camps were concentrated. The Renaissance deputies ask the State to "improve the information, support and security of mayors by relying in particular on the new Center for Analysis of the fight against attacks against elected officials", whose creation was announced in May.
This center must pay "particular attention to local elected officials concerned by the installation of reception structures for asylum seekers," explained to AFP the deputy Mathieu Lefèvre. Among other "adjustments", the prefectures are called upon to inform local elected officials in a "systematic" way during calls for projects on these structures. Another "fragility": in two years, 48,230 asylum seekers have been offered accommodation in the regions, but 12,124 have refused it, a refusal rate of about 25%.
High refusal rate
In their report, MEPs are particularly concerned about the dynamics of these refusals. The refusal rate "increased sharply between 2021 (17.8%) and 2022 (29.1%) thanks in particular to the increase in asylum applications submitted by Bangladeshi and Turkish nationals", particularly reluctant to be transferred to the regions.
In order to improve the situation, Stella Dupont, a figure on the left wing of the majority, proposes, among other things, to "enrich the algorithm" used to determine the assignment so that it takes into account "the presence of particular ties" of the asylum seeker in a region. The MP also proposes to "financially encourage" local authorities to "promote the establishment" of these reception centers.
