A recent report submitted to the French National Assembly has highlighted the significant presence of Algerian nationals among irregular migrants in France. The report, presented by Charles Rodwell, special rapporteur of the Committee on Finance, General Economy, and Budgetary Control, was submitted on September 16. It provides key statistics on deportation decisions and the actual implementation of these measures on French territory. The report focuses on the management of expulsions to Algeria, a strategic country, and proposes ways to optimize the removal of irregular migrants.
According to the report, 4,703 Algerian nationals were apprehended in an irregular situation on French soil in 2023. During the same period, 2,513 were effectively deported from the metropolitan area, representing an execution rate of 53%. However, the same source reveals a sharp decline in the execution rate for 2025: 46,956 Algerian nationals were apprehended without a residence permit, but only 2,539 were effectively deported, reducing the reconduction/interpellation ratio to just 4.9%.
The report also provides comparative data on other nationalities. The number of Tunisian nationals apprehended in an irregular situation rose from 13,414 in 2024 to 16,366 in 2025. Moroccan nationals, who occupy the third position, also saw an increase in controls without papers, rising from 12,956 in 2024 to 13,882 in 2025. At the European level, the report relies on Eurostat data from December 2025 to highlight that in 2024, Algerians, Moroccans, and Syrians formed the top three nationalities targeted by expulsion decisions.
The report notes that these three countries alone concentrate over a fifth of the removal measures pronounced in the European Union. However, the rapporteur highlights a significant discrepancy: the ranking of actual expulsions does not match that of the orders issued. In practice, Georgian nationals are at the top of the list for effective departures, followed by Turkish and Albanian citizens.
The document points out a paradox: North African countries, whose nationals accumulate the largest number of removal measures, are not among the primary destinations for effective returns. This discrepancy raises questions about the effectiveness of France's deportation policies and the challenges of executing these measures.
The report proposes ways to optimize the removal of irregular migrants, particularly focusing on the management of expulsions to Algeria. It also highlights the budgetary costs and difficulties of execution on the ground. The report's findings and recommendations aim to improve the effectiveness of France's migration policies.
The issue of irregular migration remains a pressing concern for French authorities, with many challenges to be addressed in terms of execution and effectiveness of deportation policies. The report's revelations underscore the complexities of managing migration flows and the need for a comprehensive approach to address this issue.
Key points
- Algerian nationals are among the top of irregular migrant apprehensions in France.
- The execution rate of deportations for Algerian nationals decreased significantly in 2025.
- North African countries, including Algeria, have a high number of removal measures but are not among the primary destinations for effective returns.
