Will the town hall of Toulouse expel a hundred unaccompanied minors?
Several associations organized a rally on Friday, February 4, to signal the imminent expulsion, by the city of Toulouse, of a hundred unaccompanied minors from a temporary reception facility. An accusation that the town hall denies, which ensures that the care of the young people concerned is maintained.
For the past two years, around a hundred unaccompanied minors and asylum seekers have been housed on the Tourelles site, as part of an experimental reception system set up by the city of Toulouse and several associations and collectives. Following the announcement by the town hall of the closure of this place of accompanimentthis Monday, February 7, the association Doctors of the World, the Society of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul and the collective Tous-tes En Classe 31 launched a call to demonstrate, Friday, February 4, “against the expulsion of a hundred young people unaccompanied by the town hall of Toulouse”. A volte-face by the town hall, all the more incomprehensible for the associations that this procedure would take place “in the middle of the winter break, without prior social diagnosis or accommodation solution”. Nevertheless, the town hall of Toulouse considers this presentation of the situation misleading and ensures that no expulsion is on the agenda.
A well-planned closure of the site on February 7
In a letter dated January 25, the town hall of Toulouse did indeed announce to the lodged, as well as to the associations and collectives involved “closing the site”. A decision motivated by “a framework regularly abused” and “very violent incidents” having led to “the erection of barricades [par les occupants] aimed at preventing professionals from intervening”. A chaotic situation that engages the responsibility of the community. The latter has therefore effectively initiated a procedure to recover the premises, belonging to the CCAS, loans within the framework of this device. Nevertheless, the town hall of Toulouse assures us of its desire to continue to guarantee “basic needs (access to water, electricity and food)” occupants, the time to put in place personalized support and rehousing solutions. In order to avoid “dry” outings.
Force partners to collaborate
By announcing the closure of the site, the town hall of Toulouse therefore wishes as much to put an end to a situation whose control seems to escape it which pushes the partners to take their responsibilities. “Our wish is to continue the partnership work that we have started with the Departmental Council of Haute-Garonne and the State services. The objective is to rebuild a framework of shelter and support for these young people awaiting clarification of their administrative situation., defended Daniel Rougé, first deputy to the Mayor of Toulouse and vice-president of the CCAS. The town hall of Toulouse therefore wishes to take advantage of the delays inherent in the expulsion procedure to carry out a census of unaccompanied minors and direct them towards appropriate measures. While relying on the prospect of a deadline to encourage its partners to operate effectively.