Mahmood's detention site to stop small boat migrants in France hit by legal challenge

A French migrant detention centre part funded by the UK is under construction and expected to open by the end of the year. The facility is intended to hold up to 140 migrants detained by French police before they cross the Channel. Small boat migrants would be detained there until they can be returned to their home country or another EU member state. An environmental group, ADELFA, challenged the permit granted in November, claiming it breached local planning rules. The initial challenge was rejected, and ADELFA has filed an appeal at Lille’s Administrative Court. Detention can last up to 90 days, and the centre’s completion is now at risk.

"A new French migrant detention centre part funded by the UK faces being shelved by a legal challenge, according to reports. The centre, which the French originally committed to build in 2023 under Rishi Sunak's government, is under construction and was expected to be operational by the end of this year. The building will be used to house migrants detained by French police before they cross the Channel, with space for 140 people."

"According to reports of the agreement, small boat migrants will be detained at the site until they can be returned to their home country or to another EU member state. But the completion of the site has now been thrown into jeopardy by an environmental group called Flemish-Artois Coastal Environmental Defense Assembly, known as ADELFA, the BBC reported."

"The group challenged the decision to grant a permit to build the detention centre last November, arguing that it violated local planning rules. The challenge was rejected and ADELFA has now filed an appeal at Lille's Administrative Court. Migrants can be held in detention for a maximum of 90 days."

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