After the 'final' dismantling of the camps at Porte de la Chapelle in the north of Paris on November 7, 1,611 migrants affected by the police operation were sent to some 20 structures in and around Paris. The five reception and situation review centers (CAES) in Île-de-France, which examine people’s administrative status, took in 450 people. In the camps in the north of Paris, many people were "Dubliners,", (those who have already applied for asylum in the first country in the EU they entered and, under the Dublin convention, should be returned to that country to complete their asylum process); but newcomers, rejected asylum seekers, and even statutory refugees had settled there as well.

Migrants "stay a few days in the CAES. If a migrant is refused asylum, he or she is asked to leave. And if an asylum application is processed, people can be placed longer-term in temporary accommodation centers (CPH) for several months, until the asylum application is processed," the prefecture of the Île-de-France region told InfoMigrants, adding that these CPHs can be located anywhere in France.

Waiting in gymnasiums

For the time being, however, the majority of migrants removed from Porte de la Chapelle have not even been able to set foot in CAES due to lack of space. In Île-de-France, these centers have a total capacity of 750 people. "A sixth center will open its doors in the 18th arrondissement of Paris,at the beginning of 2020," the regional prefecture says in an effort to reassure. "That will bring the number of places in Île-de-France to 900."

In the meantime, about 900 of the 1,611 migrants were taken to gyms in some 20 cities, including Paris, Courbevoie (Hauts-de-Seine), Vaujours, Villemomble (Seine-Saint-Denis) and Cachan (Val-de-Marne). A total of 15 gymnasiums were requisitioned for a period of one month for this purpose.

It’s a temporary and very uncomfortable solution, according to migrants, who talk about mold on the walls of some gymnasiums and a set of strict rules to which they are forced to adhere, such as the prohibition of migrants cooking for themselves. Some tell InfoMigrants that they preferred to leave and find accommodation solutions by themselves, notably under a circus tent in Saint-Denis.

Statutory refugees, on the other hand, have the option of being taken to a new Parisian center located in the 12th arrondissement, provided they have a job or are enrolled in training. "This is an experimental center for the support and integration of refugees," the prefecture elaborated. "It has 200 places and is intended to accommodate refugees, but also to provide them with intensive French courses, as well as help finding employment and accommodation. This kind of center is unique in France." This facility has been open for two weeks and will exist for a period of six months, which may be extended.

In addition, 207 people who were considered vulnerable - families, single women, couples – were taken to a shelter in Ivry, "which acts as a CAES", according to the prefecture.

16 migrants sent to the retention center in Vincennes

In the wake of the dismantling, 16 people were sent, on the very day of the police operation, to the administrative retention center (CRA) in Paris-Vincennes, according to the Facebook page of Assfam, a group that works with migrants and provides legal assistance to those who have been detained.

"These migrants say they had a hearing at the police station, after which they were sent to the CRA that very evening," said Justine Girard, coordinator of the CRAs at Assfam. According to the authorities, no verification of administrative status was carried out during the dismantling in order to allow "unconditional sheltering" for all.

The Paris prefecture told InfoMigrants that, strictly speaking, the cases of these 16 people "does not fall within the scope of the shelter operation," although their arrests took place on the same day as the dismantling and in the same place.

In a statement issued on November 7, the prefecture warned that "people who attempt to resettle [north of the capital, at Porte de la Chapelle in Paris' 18th arrondissement and Avenue du Président Wilson in Saint-Denis] will be immediately checked and their administrative status verified. If they are found to be without the legal right to remain they would be placed in an administrative detention center."

As winter approaches, a camp at Porte d'Aubervilliers, where there are 2,000 migrants, is now also in the sights of the police. According to the prefecture, it is due to be dismantled before Christmas.