Controversy Over Relocation of Paris Homeless Ahead of 2024 Olympics

In preparation for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics, French officials have relocated hundreds of migrants from the southern suburbs of Paris to other cities in the country. On April 17, authorities asked immigrants living in an abandoned office building on the outskirts of Paris to board buses and travel to central cities like Orleans or Bordeaux in the southwest. The building housed 450 immigrants, most of whom had legal documents and were waiting for social housing.

The move has sparked controversy among charities and residents who have accused authorities of trying to push homeless people out of the capital to make way for the Olympics. Some residents left the building earlier in the week, with about 300 people carrying luggage leaving on the morning of April 17 under the supervision of riot police. Most of them were young men, but there were also mothers with small children.

Immigration officials met with individuals to explain their situation in French or English and tried to persuade some to relocate to Bordeaux, citing opportunities outside of Paris. The move has raised concerns about how France will accommodate thousands of athletes and visitors from around the world during the two-week event. France will deploy tens of thousands of police, private security officers, and military soldiers daily during the Olympics.