Olympic Evictions: French Authorities Relocate Hundreds of Migrants, Sparking Controversy

In preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics, French authorities have relocated hundreds of migrants from the southern suburbs of Paris to other cities in France. On April 17, officials asked immigrants living in an abandoned office building on the outskirts of Paris to board buses to travel to the central city of Orleans or Bordeaux in the southwest. The building is home to 450 immigrants, most of whom have legal documents and are waiting for social housing.

Charities have accused authorities of trying to push homeless people out of the capital in order to make way for the Olympics, which will take place from July 26 to August 11. Some residents left the building earlier in the week, with about 300 people carrying luggage leaving on the morning of April 17 under the supervision of riot police. Most of them were young men, but there were also mothers with small children.

Immigration officials met with individuals to explain their situation in French or English and tried to persuade some to relocate to Bordeaux, citing opportunities outside of Paris. The officials also warned that due to increased security measures during the Olympics, it may be difficult for migrants without proper papers or visas to find housing or work opportunities within Paris itself.

The deployment of tens of thousands of police, private security officers and military soldiers daily during the two-week event will add extra pressure on already strained resources and could exacerbate tensions between migrants and locals. Some residents have expressed concerns about their safety and well-being during this time.