French Prefect Warns Rampant Migrant Crime Plagues Rhône Cities

Fabienne Buccio, the prefect of France’s Rhône department, has fired warning shots about escalating crime rates tied to Algerian nationals in her region while expressing deep frustration over Algier’s persistent refusal to accept deportees. Her assessment reveals a growing crisis where offenders operate with what she describes as a “feeling of impunity,” knowing deportation efforts will likely fail. 

Speaking in an interview making waves across French media, Buccio revealed alarming statistics: foreign-born individuals account for a staggering 60% of arrests in the Rhône department, which includes Lyon, France’s third-largest city. Even more striking is the fact that at least half of these arrestees are Algerian nationals. 

Buccio explained the current system’s limitations: while some convicted criminals serve prison sentences, others are transferred to administrative detention centers (CRAs) after completing their terms to prevent their immediate return to the streets. “When I can place them in a CRA upon release from prison, I do it – because we can’t just put them straight back on the street,” she said. Judges have begun imposing the maximum 90-day detention period more frequently, but this temporary solution merely delays an unsolved problem. 

The core issue lies in Algeria’s refusal to cooperate with deportation efforts. “No progress has been made on this front for a year,” Buccio emphasized. Even when individuals possess valid Algerian passports and are escorted to the border by French authorities, Algerian officials routinely refuse them entry. This bureaucratic stonewalling has created a revolving door where offenders remain in France despite court orders for their removal. 

This standoff reflects deeper tensions between France and its former colony, with diplomatic relations hitting new lows in recent years. The imprisonment of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, France’s crackdown on Algerian social media influencers accused of spreading anti-French rhetoric, and reciprocal diplomat expulsions have all contributed to the frosty relationship.

Buccio’s comments highlight the impossible position facing French law enforcement. While police and judges work to detain and deport offenders, Algeria’s non-cooperation undermines the entire process. Critics also argue France’s deportation policies lack sufficient muscle.

The Macron administration faces mounting pressure to either secure Algeria’s cooperation or find alternative solutions. For frontline officials like Buccio, each blocked deportation represents another failure to protect public safety.