France - immigration

Police block Calais migrants' shelter

Article published on the 2010-02-07 Latest update 2010-02-07 15:07 TU

French Immigration Minister Eric Besson (R) and Brice Teinturier, of pollsters Sofres, at a news conference to present the result of his debate on French national identity last week
(Photo: Reuters)

Riot police in the French channel port of Calais on Saturday night surrounded a hangar used by anti-racist groups to shelter migrants from Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran. Immigration Minister Eric Besson swore that he will stop the creation of a new camp for undocumented immigrants in the city.

Riot police threw a security cordon around the 600m² hangar overnight as 90 immigrants and 20 sympathisers slept inside.

On Sunday several dozen migrants left to fetch food and were prevented from re-entering the shelter.

A group called SOS soutien ô sans-papiers (SOS support undocumented workers) rented the building several weeks ago to allow another group called No Border to open the shelter.

But Immigration Minister Eric Besson on Sunday slammed the action as "unacceptable" and said he is weighing action to shut it down. Calais Mayor Natacha Bouchart declared that she is ready to an eviction order to empty the building.

Besson vowed that there will be no "new jungle" in Calais, in reference to the migrants' camp which was cleared by police last year. The government's joint charter flights with Britain to deport immigrants have aroused violent criticism in France.

Calais has become a pole of attraction for migrants hoping to gain entry to Britain, which stopped 28,000 people crossing the Channel in 2008.