L’Humanité revealed on 25 September 2026 that the Prefect of Hauts-de-Seine presented local mayors with a confidential memo trumpeting a 52 percent year-on-year increase in administrative removals of undocumented migrants. The document, obtained by the MRAP anti-racism association and shared with the newspaper, praises “robust collaboration with municipal police” and the use of night-time sweeps near La Défense business district. Civil-society organisations condemned the tone as dehumanising, pointing out that many deported individuals had ongoing appeals or were awaiting employer-sponsored regularisation under France’s ‘exceptional talent’ provisions. Lawyers warn that accelerated removals heighten the risk of procedural errors that can later invalidate bans on re-entry, complicating HR planning for companies that rely on subcontracted labour. The Interior Ministry did not dispute the figures but said they reflect a nationwide strategy to clear a backlog of 34,000 “obligation de quitter le territoire français” (OQTF) orders. In practice, the crackdown may spill over to adjoining prefectures: random ID checks at Saint-Lazare station rose 38 percent last week, according to data provided by the transport-police union. For employers, the message is clear: ensure that all foreign staff—including interns and posted workers—carry valid residence documentation at all times and initiate renewal processes at least four months before expiry. Firms found employing individuals without authorisation face fines up to €15,000 per worker and exclusion from public contracts. Relocation providers should prepare for heightened anxiety among assignees and may want to offer legal hotlines or briefings on workers’ rights during ID inspections.
Source: L’Humanité / MRAP
