The French Senate passed, on May 12, 2025, a bill with 227 votes in favor and 113 against, proposed by the Republicans, to remove NGOs from administrative detention centers for migrants.
The bill transfers the role of providing legal advice and assistance to detained migrants, pending deportation, to the French Office for Immigration and Integration under the Ministry of the Interior.
Nevertheless , the bill is likely to be fast-tracked to the National Assembly for approval. Five NGOs, including Cimade and France Terre d’Asile, currently provide legal support in these centers.
The bill, which also aims to cut state expenses by €605 million, faced opposition from migrant advocacy groups and left-wing parties, who argue it undermines legal principles and NGO freedoms, as reported by French media.
