France considers deportation of immigrant student population amid mental health concerns

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Graduating High School Students in Parisian Suburb Face Deportation Orders

In Saint-Denis, a northern suburb of Paris, several high school graduates from immigrant families are receiving deportation orders. The students, who arrived in France as minors on non-study visas, are being told to leave the country when they graduate.

According to reports, Mariem, 19, and Mohammed, 19, both studying vocational degrees, received letters informing them of their deportation orders. The letters, issued by France’s Ministry of the Interior, claim that the students do not hold proper visas to study in France.

The students’ families arrived in France when they were young, and the students have been living in the country for several years. However, due to changes in immigration policies, some high school graduates are being ordered to leave the country despite having strong ties to France and future professional prospects.

An academic adviser at a Saint-Denis trade school estimated that 50 students are either undocumented or have been deported due to lack of paperwork. The adviser reported that several other technical schools in the region are experiencing similar challenges.

The situation is complex, as the students’ parents arrived in France on non-study visas when they were children. Until they turn 18, they are protected from deportation. However, after that age, they do not have the same protections despite having strong ties to France and future professional prospects.

In January 2025, the interior minister reduced the number of work permits given to high school graduates to remain living in France legally. This change was intended to reduce a backlog of paperwork processing.

According to France’s Ministry of the Interior, the percentage of visas issued overall has decreased by more than 40 percent and work visas by more than 50 percent since 2023. The country has also delivered more deportation orders than any other European Union country in recent years.

The students’ cases highlight the challenges faced by those who have been living in France for several years, despite not having proper documentation.

Source: Al Jazeera