France held 16,000 foreigners in detention centres in 2026

In 2025, 16,467 people were held in detention centres across mainland France, compared with 16,228 the previous year. More than 60% were released without being deported. Detention centres mainly hold two groups: people found to have committed immigration offences, such as overstaying a visa, and foreign nationals reported after serving a jail sentence in France. Many people are not sent to detention centres and instead receive an OQTF, a notice to leave France by a set date, with detention possible for those who remain after that date. France has 22 mainland detention centres. Algerians were the largest group of detainees at 30%, followed by Tunisians at 11% and Moroccans at 10%. In overseas territories, 27,568 people were detained, with 96% of cases in Mayotte, including 3,074 minors. Police checks accounted for 46.3% of detentions, while 29% followed release from prison.

"Around 16,500 foreign nationals were held in detention centres across mainland France in 2025, but more than 60 percent were released without being deported, according to a report published on Tuesday. The annual report, conducted by the organisations Forum réfugiés, France terre d'asile, Groupe SOS Solidarités, La Cimade and Solidarité Mayotte, found that 16,467 people were detained in detention centres in 2025, compared with 16,228 the previous year."

"The detention centres are mainly used for two groups; people found to have committed immigration offences in France such as overstaying a visa or foreign nationals who are reported after serving a jail sentence in France. Not everybody found to have committed an immigration offence will be sent to a detention centre; the most common course is to be issued with an OQTF (Obligation de quitter le territoire français) which is a notice advising you to leave France by a certain date. People who stay after that date may end up in a detention centre."

"France introduced its first detention centre in 1984 and there are now 22 in mainland France, known as Centres de Rétention Administrative (CRA). In 2025, the report showed that Algerians made up the largest group of detainees at 30 percent, followed by Tunisians (11 percent) and Moroccans (10 percent). The organisations said this reflected a "prioritisation of certain nationalities", although those nationalities also represent the largest groups of non-EU foreigners living in France."

"In France's overseas territories, 27,568 people were detained, with 96 percent of cases recorded in Mayotte - among those detained in Mayotte were 3,074 minors. Nearly half of all detainees (46.3 percent) were placed in detention following police checks, while 29 percent were detained after being released from prison."

Read at The Local France