Migrant Advocates Protest ’Administrative Hurdles’ at Rouen Prefecture

Associations defending the cause of migrants are angry. About 70 activists and a dozen unaccompanied minors demonstrated on Friday, March 14, 2025 in front of the prefecture of Rouen to protest against the administrative obstacles faced by undocumented immigrants seeking residence permits, reports Paris-Normandie. "We are observing administrative mistreatment of foreigners and we want to denounce it," deplores a RESF Rouen official.

According to the associations present, members of the Estates General of Migration, "physical queues have been replaced by digital queues," which are also slow (or even more so) and generate undocumented immigrants. "People applying for a residence permit have to wait for appointments that occur at best 6 months after their application, at worst 24 months, with loss of rights, jobs that are no longer possible," the associations specify.

According to their explanations, foreigners eligible for a residence permit are subjected to such an administrative obstacle course that they often lose their rights and are hit with deportation orders due to deadlines they cannot meet given the complexity of the procedure.

The problem is real. "We accompany people for medical reasons," details Franky, from the AIDES association. "These delays are aggravating their pathologies, with care delays that are much too long. Precariousness is the nest of epidemics." "We too are experiencing the mistreatment of young migrants," deplores a representative of the local mission of Rouen.

The unaccompanied minors, gathered behind their banner, cry out their distress. They demand the end of bone tests to determine their age, free access to public transport and the closure of administrative detention centers. "We have all fled our own countries but are kept apart here. We are in precariousness and it puts us in danger," declare some unaccompanied minors.

The associations and undocumented persons denounce the Darmanin law and the Retailleau directive which restrict the right of foreigners to obtain residence permits.

Approached, the prefecture of Rouen explains: "A delegation was received at the prefecture late in the morning. Apart from a few specific cases, it was recalled on this occasion that the processing times for residence permit applications are in line with those provided for by the regulations. In the specific cases that require a longer processing time, users have the possibility of requesting the issuance of an Attestation of Extension of Instruction which allows people to retain their rights. Finally, users who do not have digital tools can make an appointment with the PAN (digital access point) at the prefecture."