Overview
- On July 2, the National Assembly voted 74 to 41 to extend the maximum administrative detention period in retention centres from 90 to 210 days for certain foreign nationals.
- The bill broadens the 210-day detention window, previously reserved for terrorism cases, to include those under an obligation to leave France, individuals deemed a serious threat to public order, and those convicted of murder, rape, drug trafficking or aggravated violent theft.
- Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau argued that faster consular laissez-passer processing could have prevented the 2024 murder of 19-year-old student Philippine, which prompted the legislative initiative.
- All left-wing deputies opposed the measure, saying longer detention will not improve expulsion rates given bureaucratic delays and will exacerbate poor conditions and psychiatric issues in retention centres.
- The proposal now advances to a final vote next week and follows roughly 30,000 annual administrative detentions in metropolitan France, with European law permitting up to 540 days of retention.