Overview

• Laurent Wauquiez, in his campaign for leadership of Les Républicains, proposed detaining foreigners under OQTF in a facility on Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, offering them the choice of isolation or returning to their home countries.
• The plan relies on the island's harsh climate and extended detention periods, which Wauquiez argues would deter individuals from remaining in France illegally.
• Manuel Valls, Minister for Overseas France, condemned the proposal as dehumanizing and reminiscent of colonial-era penal practices, asserting that no French territory should be treated as a zone of exile.
• Critics from across the political spectrum, including Marine Le Pen and local representatives, labeled the measure disrespectful to the residents of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon and ineffective in addressing immigration challenges.
• Wauquiez defended the proposal on CNews, calling it a bold solution to France's low OQTF enforcement rate and framing it as a necessary step to regain control over immigration policy.