France Launches Large-Scale Anti-Illegal Immigration Operations at Transport Hubs
French authorities launch large-scale operations against illegal immigration at transport hubs.
Key Points
- • 4,000 law enforcement officers deployed in transport hubs
- • 47,000 illegal immigrants arrested in 2025, with a notable recent surge
- • Operations criticized by unions and human rights groups as xenophobic
- • Government emphasizes strict border control measures and naturalization criteria
In a sweeping effort to combat illegal immigration, French authorities have initiated extensive operations across the country's train stations and bus terminals, mobilizing 4,000 law enforcement personnel, including police, gendarmes, and customs officers. This crackdown is spearheaded by Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau and comes amidst rising concerns over undocumented migrants in France.
The operations, which began on June 19 and are scheduled for two days, focus on intercepting train passengers headed to neighboring countries and major cities within France. Retailleau has reported that there have been 47,000 arrests of illegal immigrants since the start of 2025, highlighting a significant 28% increase in interceptions recently. These enhanced measures follow a national operation in May that alone resulted in over 750 arrests, prompting the government's intensified control.
Retailleau declared that "clandestine immigrants are not welcome in France in the firmest and most definitive way," reinforcing the country’s hardline stance on border security. This approach aligns with previous statements made by Prime Minister François Bayrou, who described the influx as a 'submersion' affecting various departments in the country.
However, the operations have faced substantial criticism from various quarters, including labor unions and civil rights organizations. The anti-racism group MRAP has labeled the initiative as xenophobic, comparing it to historical ‘roundups’ that disproportionately target vulnerable populations. Critics argue that such actions create an atmosphere of fear among workers who rely on public transport to commute to their jobs.
The French government’s fortified border measures not only aim to curb illegal immigration but also include tightening criteria for naturalization, necessitating adherence to laws, proficiency in French, and job market integration, as noted in Retailleau's recent policy outlines. The broader implications of these operations on public sentiment and immigrant communities in France are yet to be fully realized, as the crackdown unfolds across major urban centers.