French officials have relocated hundreds of migrants from the southern suburbs of Paris to other cities in preparation for the upcoming Olympics. On April 17, immigrants living in an abandoned office building on the outskirts of Paris were asked to board buses to travel to the central city of Orleans or Bordeaux in the southwest. The building housed 450 immigrants, most of whom have legal documents and are waiting for social housing. Charities have accused authorities of trying to push homeless people out of the capital to make way for the Olympics, which will take place from July 26 to August 11.
Some residents left the building earlier in the week after authorities announced their plans to move. Approximately 300 people, mostly young men but also mothers with small children, left the building on the morning of April 17 under the supervision of riot police. They presented their documents to immigration officials to explain their situations in French or English. Despite efforts to persuade some to relocate to other cities, many expressed a desire to stay in the Paris metropolitan area.
The 2024 Paris Olympics are expected to bring in thousands of athletes, sports experts, and visitors from around the world. To ensure security during the two-week event, France will deploy 45,000 police officers, 20,000 private security officers, and 15,000 military soldiers each day. This relocation of migrants from Paris is seen as a preparation for the large-scale event and has sparked controversy among NGOs and immigrant communities.