Prime Minister François Bayrou is set to chair a high-level interministerial committee on immigration control (CICI) on Wednesday, February 26, as the government seeks to address growing public concerns over migration management. The meeting comes amid heightened tensions with Algeria following a recent terrorist attack in Mulhouse, which left one dead and seven injured. The primary suspect, a 37-year-old Algerian national, was in France illegally and had been repeatedly denied re-entry to Algeria despite French efforts to deport him.
The CICI, first established in 2005, was reactivated by Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau in January to “respond to the expectations of the French people for greater control over migration flows.” The committee will bring together key ministers, including those overseeing interior, foreign affairs, justice, labor, and health, to discuss strategies for tightening border controls, visa policies, and deportation measures. The meeting will also address the implementation of the European Pact on Asylum and Migration, adopted in May 2025, which aims to strengthen border screening and establish a solidarity mechanism among EU member states.
The Mulhouse attack has intensified diplomatic friction between France and Algeria, particularly over Algeria’s refusal to accept deportees. Prime Minister Bayrou has criticized Algeria’s repeated rejections of French deportation requests as “unacceptable.” The suspect in the Mulhouse attack had been subject to a deportation order (OQTF) but remained in France due to Algeria’s refusal to cooperate. This incident has reignited debates within the French government over how to handle migration and diplomatic relations with Algeria.
Interior Minister Retailleau has advocated for a tougher stance, suggesting the suspension of certain privileges for Algerian officials and a review of longstanding bilateral agreements dating back to 1968. In contrast, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has emphasized the importance of diplomatic cooperation, citing a tripling of deportations to Algeria following a 2022 agreement. Despite these divisions, the CICI meeting will focus on broader immigration policies rather than specific issues with Algeria, according to Patrick Stefanini, a special representative of the Interior Ministry.
The gathering underscores the French government’s efforts to balance public demand for stricter immigration controls with the complexities of international diplomacy. As the debate continues, the outcomes of the CICI meeting could shape France’s approach to migration and its relations with key partners in the years to come.
