The arrest in France of dozens of North African immigrants arrived in Hexagon via Italy has sparked protests and condemnations from the Paris Mayor, Socialist Bertrand Delanoe, and humanitarian organizations that have criticized the police action.
About 60 illegal migrants were detained yesterday in the French capital and 15 others in Marseille. Hundreds of Tunisian immigrants still sleep in parks or outdoor shelters provided by local authorities or humanitarian organizations. They are only a part of the tens of thousands of North African immigrants who left their countries affected by the riots in the Arab world, crossed the Mediterranean Sea and arrived in Europe through Italy, a country which has granted them temporary residence permits.
Last weeks, Paris has already expelled more migrants and temporarily suspended of trains running from Italy, carrying Tunisians eager to get into France. Yesterday, at Marseille, 15 Tunisians who stood in a square near the train station, were picked up by police. Bernard Eynaud, representing the Federation for Human Rights noted that the police action took place at a time when local authorities had already found shelter for 15 people.
In Paris, the Socialist mayor, from the opposition party, had harsher words for the actions of the conservative government, characterizing the arrests as “shocking.” He stressed that the state should stop “undignified” operations of the police and should implement solutions that meet “international law and human dignity”.
The Tunisians living outdoors for several days in Paris, thanks to humanitarian aid organizations, told the BBC that the dream of a better life turned yet into a nightmare. They further stated that they want to stay in Europe and find a job.
The pressure of tens of thousands of migrants who arrived in Europe is strongly felt in the Member States and will affect the rules of the governing bloc. Tuesday, Nicolas Sarkozy and Silvio Berlusconi have urged the EU that the Member States should easily restore border controls within the Schengen area, a move that, some critics say, will affect the free movement in EU, one of the pillars of European Community.