A legal assistant from Cimade, a group offering support to foreign individuals, arrived for a scheduled meeting at the Bordeaux Administrative Retention Center (CRA) on June 25th, only to find her client, identified as “MM,” being escorted by border police. According to Cimade, MM’s expulsion occured despite a pending suspensive appeal, with a hearing scheduled at the administrative court of BORDEAUX just two days later to consider his asylum request.

Cimade reports that after arriving in FRANCE, MM sought asylum through a one-stop service. However, the association claims his application wasn’t promptly submitted to the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (OFPRA), leading to the file’s closure. The appeal concerned the reopening of the case, which would allow for a full examination of the merits of his asylum claim. Cimade asserts that MM should not have been deported without an administrative decision or prior notification.

“The person was not notified as it should have been. It was a competition for circumstances, my colleague was right there at the right time to see the expulsion,”

Accusations of Injustice

Cimade says it immediately contacted the Bordeaux administrative court and confirmed that the appeal was still active. Despite requests from both the association and the court registry, the Gironde prefecture allegedly did not provide an explanation. Cimade reports that MM was returned to his country of origin, and the association has since lost contact with him.

While the hearing has been rescheduled, MM’s absence makes it difficult for him to assert his rights. The fact that the case was moved to a chamber-a division with multiple judges-suggests the court views it as significant, potentially setting a precedent.

“generally decisions taken in chamber are times when the court wants to take an critically important position on a file. In any case, this is what we can hope,”

Concerns Over political Climate

Cimade issued a press release denouncing what it describes as “a worrying political climate,where illegal prefectural practices are multiplying.” The association expressed concern over these perceived attacks on democracy and the rule of law. Due to what it sees as a disregard for the rights of foreign individuals, Cimade has suspended its activities in certain cras, including Mesnil-Amelot.

The Bordeaux branch of Cimade has observed a change in the practices of the Gironde prefecture, noting that illegal expulsions were previously uncommon.

“One more reason to mark the occasion and emphasize that it happened,”

The Gironde prefecture has not responded to requests for comment.