Forced Eviction of Migrants: Paris Prepares for the Olympics by Relocating Homeless People

On April 17th, hundreds of migrants from the southern suburbs of Paris were relocated to other cities in preparation for the Olympics. The abandoned office building on the outskirts of Paris, where most of these immigrants lived, housed 450 people, most of whom had legal documents and were waiting for social housing.

Charities have accused authorities of trying to push homeless people out of the capital in order to make way for the Olympics, which will take place from July 26th to August 11th. Some residents left the building earlier in the week, with about 300 people carrying luggage leaving on the morning of April 17th under the supervision of riot police. Most of them were young men, but there were also mothers with small children.

Immigration officials met with individuals to explain their situation in French or English and tried to persuade some to relocate to Bordeaux, citing opportunities outside of Paris. The 2024 Paris Olympics are expected to attract thousands of athletes and visitors from around the world, with a significant security presence in place. France will deploy tens of thousands of police, private security officers, and military soldiers daily during the two-week event.