French Authorities Face Backlash Over School Arrest of Undocumented Student

The arrest of a 14-year-old girl by gendarmes in a Moselle school violated a 2013 circular banning such actions and has prompted official apologies and policy reminders.

On January 22, gendarmes entered a school in Maizières-lès-Metz, Moselle, to arrest a 14-year-old undocumented student of Burkinabé origin during school hours.
The arrest contravened a 2013 circular prohibiting law enforcement interventions in schools for immigration-related removals, even with parental consent.
The student and her family were deported to Belgium under the Dublin Regulation, which mandates the first EU country of asylum application to process the case.
Education Minister Élisabeth Borne issued a formal reminder to rectors and school officials about the ban, emphasizing the need to maintain a safe educational environment.
The incident has sparked widespread concern among parents, teachers, and unions, leading to protests and demands for accountability from local and national authorities.

Le Journal du Dimanche

Le Parisien