Roger Mathieu on unaccompanied minors: “Leaving these young people on the street during this period is hard…”

Roger Mathieu is concerned about the situation of unaccompanied minors in this cold period. Midi Libre – MiKAEL ANISSET

International Migrants Day takes place on December 18, with a demonstration in Nîmes. Roger Mathieu, member of the Nîmes coordination of young exiles, RESF and APTI, takes stock of the situation of unaccompanied minors.

What is happening to the young people who were evicted from the disused hamam in Valdegour at the beginning of December? ?

Overall, there were about thirty young people. Seven are now in solidarity accommodation, four have been taken in by the Red Cross. The others, we don't know, some have gone to Toulouse, Lyon or Alès. And among them, many are appealing to assert their minority.

It's surprising that a left-wing departmental council is pursuing this type of policy.

We recall the problem: while the department's services establish whether they are unaccompanied minors (UM), these young people should be taken into care (1)…

Yes, but Child Welfare Services (ASE, a departmental service) are putting obstacles in their way. Normally, any young foreigner who arrives in France must go through the ASE services. If they have papers proving that they are minors, they must be taken care of and educated. But we have the impression that the ASE wants to take fewer and fewer of them. And then there are the appeals (before the judicial authorities, in the event of non-recognition of minority or isolation, Editor's note). Last year, out of 10 young people appealing after an unfavorable assessment by the ASE, 9 were recognized as minors. And when there is a judgment in their favor, the ASE regularly appeals. It is surprising that a left-wing departmental council is pursuing this type of policy.

The situation worries you all the more now that the cold has set in…

In France, there are currently 2,000 unaccompanied minors (UMs) sleeping on the streets. Leaving young people on the streets during this period is hard… In Nîmes, their number has decreased. Last year, there were 120 UAMs without a home, today, there are around thirty.

The AMI (Aide aux migrants) association, which helped migrants with administrative procedures, has closed its doors. What consequences ?

I have also been with APTI (Association for the Promotion of Migrant Workers) for 55 years. Every Saturday, from 10 a.m. to noon, we hold a clinic for asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants. Since the AMI closed, we have been overwhelmed…

Let's get back to the unaccompanied minors. You were talking about solidarity accommodation. What is it about? ?

We set up this possibility via RESF. There is an email and a telephone number (1) and we can offer to accommodate young people for one night, two nights or on a renewable basis. On December 16, we are organizing our next meeting of hosts at Prolé.

(1) The departmental council of the place where a person declaring themselves unaccompanied minor is located is supposed to set up temporary emergency accommodation before assessing the minority and isolation of this person.

(2) resf30gard@gmail.com

International Migrants Day, Wednesday, December 18. At 6 p.m., demonstration from Maison Carrée to Place Saint-Charles, where soup will be served.

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