Migrants Removed From Calais

Residents of a make-shift camp near the port of Calais voice opposition to a police crackdown.

The site was nicknamed "the jungle" but for many it was also home.

It sprang up after France closed a nearby Red Cross centre seven years ago.

Hundreds of illegal migrants, most of them Afghans, gather here waiting for a chance to cross to Britain.

As police moved in charity workers tried to protect them.

But the migrants — many of whom were children — were soon surrounded.

And no amount of shouting or tears could stop the 278 arrests.

One aid worker was overwhelmed by the sight.

[Myriam, Aid Worker]:
"It's impossible to watch this sort of thing in France. It's impossible. Dragging people away forcefully like this."

Bulldozers later moved in to clear the zone.

The operation was condemned by humanitarian groups and numerous French protesters.

[Protester]:
They are taking children away. They should do it with some dignity. If this is France, then it's rotten. It's disgusting."

But the French Immigration Minister Eric Besson defended the action.

[Eric Besson, French Immigration Minister]:
"It is not a humanitarian camp. It is a base camp of people smugglers and there you find people who are exploited, who are victims of violence. You have chiefs and cliques. It's the law of the jungle that reigns there. On the territory of the French republic, the law of the jungle can't last."

Opponents said the operation was cosmetic and would not deter the thousands of illegal immigrants who cross European borders every year.

The migrants will now either be allowed to apply for asylum or be forcibly expelled from French borders.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• NTD
• News
• Migrants
• Calais
• the jungle
• Red cross
• Illegal migrants
• Afghanistan
• Eric Besson
• Asylum

[zebedee1970]

Send them all home. The UK benefit system needs to change. It is inviting all these muslims over here in the first place because they know we are a soft touch. Im sick of seeing mosques springing up all over MY home country because of out of control immigration. There are too many do gooders who are going to ruin this country that myself and my parents have worked hard for. How about a couple of people with sense that can stand up and say PISS OFF WE ARE FULL.. without being branded evil.

[jandutch]

This is the best solution, next step send these people home.

[MrJoelLaguna]

@kr3ml What do you mean what people?

[kr3ml]

@joelito101 What people?

[slothgoonies]

ROFL France is a beautiful First world country, Yet all the scum flocks to Calais to cross the channel.

What does it tell you about the UK? = We are EASY and STUPID

[overlord848]

goood job

[fuckislam12036]

looks like europe is waking up i love you france you did a nice job

[Ms77tiffany]

@tomcat624u because they trusted the white countries to make good on their end of the bargain.....spain is a prime example who got screwed royaly

[baderraza]

Nice job

[tomcat624u]

@OmgLoLw2gLuvUidkROFL IF YOU NOTICE, ITS ONLY WHITE COUNTRIES THEY WANT TO COME TO!!!!!! WHY NOT STAY IN THEIR 3RD WORLD AN TRY TO MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO TAKE OVER WHITE PEOPLES LANDS?

[tomcat624u]

DEPORTATION IS THE ONLY REAL ANSWER!!!!!!! GOOD JOB FRANCE, IT'S ABOUT TIME!

[MyRafi1]

Afghan mother fucker get benefit off both side here in Afghanistan and there as well here in Afghanistan they fucked their sister and mother by American and European in NGOs than they apply for emigration in Europe and America