Almost 50 detainees at Mesnil-Amelot took over a courtyard at the facility to protest poor sanitary conditions and to demand their release. On 12 April, police intervened to end their protest. According to detainees, violence and tear gas were used to disperse them – but the police deny this. The facility is the largest immigration detention (or CRA) in France, and observers have repeatedly denounced conditions inside. Approximately 30 detainees had previously gone on hunger strike to demand their release.
The French government has extended all residence permits by three months, which is intended to ensure that people have access to health care and other forms of social security .
- J. B. de la Glétais, “Au Centre de Rétention du Mesnil-Amelot, de l’Angoisse à la Révolte,” Libération, 13 April 2020, www.liberation.fr/france/2020/04/13/au-centre-de-retention-du-mesnil-amelot-de-l-angoisse-a-la-revolte_1785019
- IOM, “IOM Recognises Efforts in Europe, Middle East to Protect All Migrants’ Access to Public Health,” 3 April 2020, https://www.iom.int/news/iom-recognizes-efforts-europe-middle-east-protect-all-migrants-access-public-health
- Detainees inside the Mesnil-Amelot Detention Centre, (Christophe Archambault, AFP, May 2019, Libération, “Au Centre de Rétention du Mesnil-Amelot, de l’angoisse à la révolte”, https://www.liberation.fr/france/2020/04/13/au-centre-de-retention-du-mesnil-amelot-de-l-angoisse-a-la-revolte_1785019)
