Migrants: welcoming unaccompanied minors increasingly difficult in France

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Video length: 3 mins.

franceinfo

Article written by

A. Richier, R. Chapelard, T. Gauthier – franceinfo

France Televisions

On the border between Italy and France, the problem of unaccompanied minors is increasingly complex. Just last night, April 28, about thirty of them arrived on the French side and the dispatch of police reinforcements does nothing to solve the underlying problem.

They have before their eyes the country of their dreams but they still have one last frontier to cross. Originally from Guinea, young people who claim to be minors have just been refused entry into France by the Italian police. Omar left his country three years ago, a difficult journey. He says he was abused. Since the beginning of the year, 1,837 minor migrants have entered the Alpes-Maritimes. The borders between Italy and France are closely monitored. It is therefore mainly by train that they arrive on the territory.

Insufficient French centers

At Menton station (Alpes-Maritimes), the first stop after Italy, each wagon is thoroughly inspected by the police. When apprehended, migrants are taken to the premises of the border police. Adults are taken back to Italy while minors are protected and must be received by France. The Departmental Council, which must take care of minors, has six reception centres. But in recent weeks, they are no longer enough.


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