The Departmental Council of the Territoire de Belfort, which says it is faced with a “saturation” of its child protection systems, will cap the care of unaccompanied foreign minors (UMAs), according to a motion consulted on Tuesday.
“I am particularly vigilant about respecting the fundamental rights of all children in our country,” responded Secretary of State for Children Charlotte Caubel, who said she took “note of the political positioning” of the department.
“The cross-care of unaccompanied minors and children partially covered by child psychiatry leads to saturation of structures, an embolism of services and reveals a cruel lack of responses in terms of appropriate care,” writes the community in its motion.
Presented by Florian Bouquet, LR president of the Territoire de Belfort, one of the smallest departments in France, it was adopted unanimously by the votes cast (17 votes) during its last public meeting, on September 28. Before the summer, several other departments, also faced with an increase in placements of children in danger and an influx of unaccompanied foreign minors, had already warned of an “untenable” situation.
“The reception of unaccompanied minors and adults also contributes to the saturation of the system given the increase in the flow observed since mid-2023”, continues the motion, according to which “89 unaccompanied minors and adults » are currently in the Territoire de Belfort, for “61 places”.
According to the text, the department “however supports almost three million euros annually in supporting unaccompanied minors, and those who have become adults in the context of their integration”, while “the State only intervenes to the tune of 162,000 euros (5.4%)” and that migration policy “is its exclusive responsibility”.
Furthermore, due to saturated structures, “we have 37 (French) minors who for the moment cannot enter the system” and “whose protection we cannot ensure,” said Mr. Bouquet’s office. .
“On the verge of breaking”
The elected LR could not be reached on Tuesday. These minors “are subject to a placement measure by court decision” but the department “is not capable materially, humanly, in terms of structures or family assistants” to take care of them, he explained. during the meeting on September 28, the video of which is visible on the community’s website.
“I would like to point out that the express refusal to implement a judicial decision can at least engage the administrative responsibility of the department,” Ms. Caubel underlined on Tuesday.
“We are on the verge of rupture,” added Mr. Bouquet. According to him, “we are operating in degraded mode” and the “safety and protection of children is no longer ensured”. Consequently, “the department will limit the care (of unaccompanied minors) until the system regains decent reception capacities,” explains the motion. “Any new reception will only be able” in the future “to be carried out in the light of an exit from the system”.
Clearly, for an isolated minor to be taken care of, someone else will have to leave the system. “This decision, which violates the fundamental rights of children, is illegal,” reacted on X (ex-Twitter) Lyes Louffok, child rights activist and former member of the National Child Protection Council.