In Nîmes, around thirty migrants demonstrate in front of the administrative court for the renewal of residence permits

With the Association of Migrants of France (AMMF), they denounce the duration of renewal of residence permits and defend a Guinean threatened with expulsion

“I work in fast food and I haven't had any response from the prefecture for my residence permit renewal for nine months. We have no one to talk to. Every morning, I start by checking my phone to see if I have a positive response.  I’m afraid of being deported at any moment". Despite his fear, Moussa came to demonstrate with around thirty other migrants from black Africa, at the call of the AMMF, to demand the acceleration of residence permit renewals.

Risk of deportation

And to avoid the fate of their friend Mohammed Sisse, whose name they chant. Placed in the Nîmes detention center, he risks deportation to Guinea if his appeal examined in Toulouse is rejected. “He had a regular job that he lost because his residence permit was delayed in being renewed”,explains Kone Mamery, the president of the association created in 2021.

The demonstration in front of the gates of the administrative court. Midi Libre – K. H.

“We are integrated”

“We are not delinquents, we are workers, no to discrimination”, say the protesters, many of whom have been waiting for their residence permit to be renewed for months. Like Maurice, a painter whose boss terminated his employment contract due to lack of these documents, or Fofona who has been waiting for them for fifteen months. Or Sekou, father of two children: “We were integrated and everything is becoming complicated”.

“All these people who are demonstrating today are former unaccompanied minors (MNA) who have integrated well, have a job, sometimes a family and contribute to the wealth of France”, insists Kone Mamery.