‘I was actually depressed’: France tries to deport immigrant students
Summary
In France, some immigrant students who have completed technical high schools are receiving deportation orders instead of job offers. These students arrived as children on nonstudy visas and lose protection after turning 18, causing difficulties in continuing their education or working.Key Facts
- Some immigrant students in Saint-Denis, a poor suburb of Paris, are getting deportation orders despite finishing technical high school programs.
- Mariem, 19, arrived from Tunisia at age 12 and studied for seven years, but received a deportation order in April.
- Mohammed, 19, arrived from Morocco at age 14 and is enrolled in a technical electrical engineering program, but was told he did not have the proper visa.
- Students who came to France as children on tourist or other nonstudy visas are protected from deportation until age 18 but not after.
- An adviser estimated around 50 students in one school faced undocumented or deportation situations; the problem affects many technical schools nearby.
- France reduced work permits for high school graduates starting January 2025, aiming to limit backlog and tightening rules.
- The number of visas and work permits issued has dropped by over 40% and 50% respectively.
- France issued more deportation orders than any EU country from 2023 to 2024, though not all are enforced.
- Some students have waited up to three years for visa paperwork approval, preventing them from continuing education or employment.
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