Two Algerians were charged over the weekend for the murder and rape of Lola, a 12-year-old French schoolgirl, and despite the main female perpetrator having a deportation order, she was never sent back to her country. However, official data from the French government shows that the Algerian murder suspect is one of many who have avoided deportation, with the case showcasing how despite promises from the Macron government, French authorities have been unable or unwilling to enforce immigration law.
In fact, of the 7,731 Algerians set for deportation between July to January 2021, only 22 have actually been sent back to their home countries, a rate of a mere 0.2 percent. The overall deportation rate for those with deportation orders during the same period is only 5.7 percent, according to French news media outlet BFMTV, which utilized official government data in its report.
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This extremely low deportation rate ties back into the murder of Lola, who police say was killed by a 24-year-old Algerian woman who was already supposed to have been deported. The young age of Lola, and the shocking details of how she was tortured, murdered, and later discovered stuffed inside a suitcase with her throat slashed, have made national headlines in France, sparking a debate about mass migration, insecurity, and the state’s failure to control its borders.
French President Emmanuel Macron famously said in 2021 that his goal was a 100 percent deportation rate. While that rate is only 5.7 percent according to the latest data, in 2020 it was 13.14 percent, indicating that the French state’s deportation efforts have actually dramatically deteriorated since Macron made his promise.
In light of Lola’s death, this deportation data is serving as a major black eye for Macron. National Rally parliamentary leader Marine Le Pen spoke about the death of Lola in parliament, tying back to the government’s policies on migration, with part of Le Pen’s speech translated by Remix News.
“Madame Prime Minister, on Friday, time stopped for a moment for every one of us. France was frozen by stupor, sadness, and horror upon learning of the torment of little Lola. The young girl that people took away in broad daylight, in the middle of Paris, in the worst possible way. The compassion of the country regarding her family makes everyone aware that it could be our family. This is profound.
Once again, the suspect of this barbarous attack should not have been on our territory, and this was the case for more than three years. One time too many. And you will not be able to avoid the topic as you do in all circumstances and which the minister of justice has just done by shouting about recuperation and attacking with this hackneyed argument those who are outraged.
Too many crimes and offenses are committed by illegal immigrants that you did not want or failed to send back to their country of origin.”
Le Pen also pointed to crime data from former Paris Police Chief Didier Lallement, who retired approximately three months ago, with Le Pen stating he “wrote himself in his book that one out of every two offenses in Paris are committed by a foreigner, often in an irregular situation.” Data from the French Interior Ministry also shows that 48 percent of all offenses in Paris are committed by foreigners.
The French government, now facing tremendous public pressure to take action on deportations, is hoping a new visa restriction policy will produce change, with the French government making it more difficult for foreign nationals from Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco to obtain visas, Minister of Public Action and Accounts Gabriel Attal announced on Tuesday.
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“It is a drastic decision, it is an unprecedented decision, but it is a decision made necessary by the fact that these countries do not agree to take back nationals that we do not want and can not keep in France,” said the government spokesman on Europe 1.
According to the secretary of state, the attitude of these countries “hinders the effectiveness of deportations” to the border once the obligations to leave French territory (OQTF) are issued by the prefects.
Besides Algeria, there were 3,301 migrants slated for deportation to Morocco, but only 80 expulsions took place (2.4 percent). Of the 24,191 visas applied for, 18,579 were granted (77 percent), which were extremely low numbers due to the coronavirus health crisis. In 2019, 420,388 visas were requested and 346,103 issued (82 percent).
The rate of expulsion to Tunisia is slightly higher, with 9,424 deportation orders issued and 131 expulsions actually taking place (4 percent). Regarding visas, 12,921 were requested and 9,140 issued (71 percent). In 2019, 192,141 visas were requested and 145,917 granted (76 percent).
