They were some 200 demonstrators gathered in front of the Rhône prefecture this Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Foreign people awaiting the renewal of their residence permit, the exorbitant delays of which exasperate. Among them, Alassane Sall has just obtained his new documents, after six months of waiting and the suspension of his CDI.
More than six months of waiting to obtain a residence permit. A long delay, too long for Alassane Sall The young Mauritanian has just received his papers.
“We always live in fear, in stress because we tell ourselves that even if we have a permanent contract, even if we pay taxes, even if we have lived in France for 10 years, we can losing our residence permit”, explains Alassane. Arriving in France in 2013, the young man worries every time it comes to renewing his documents.
Because the procedure, he knows it. Two months before the expiry of his residence permit, he can make an appointment at the prefecture. The problem is that “at that time, the closest appointment is 6 months later”. Four months during which the Mauritanian feels “illegal”, but above all, four months during which he encountered difficulties in working.
“My CDI was suspended at some point because I no longer had a valid residence permit” emphasizes Alassane Sall. “I took the steps. I went four months without working”adds the young man, whose rights were suspended during the period.
“The problem is that you will continue to pay your taxes from last year even if your contract is suspended. If I had been in this situation for too long, I could not have assumed that I have behind, whether it is housing or family”underlines the Mauritanian, who could also have encountered difficulties in paying his rent.
While waiting for the official document, Alassane had to deal with receipts issued approximately every three months, allowing his employer to justify his situation. In front of the Rhône Prefecture, in the midst of asylum seekers, he demanded that the”we anticipate the situation of those who are regular, those who are there to work, so as not to let them wait for years”. “They will lose rights that they will not be able to recover behind”concludes the Mauritanian.
They are thousands to wait like him for months, even years. On May 2, between 200 and 300 people gathered in front of the Rhône prefecture, for the “Move your pref” operation.
Organized by CIMADE, the Human Rights League, Education Without Borders Network and Secours Catholique, this call to demonstrate demanded respect for the rights of foreigners and an administration that is dignified and respectful of users.