French National Assembly Rejects Seven-Month Detention Extension for Dangerous Foreigners
On April 16, 2026, the French National Assembly rejected a controversial government measure aimed at extending the administrative detention period for foreigners deemed dangerous from 90 days to seven months (210 days). The decision followed a tense vote in an electric atmosphere, where deputies adopted an amendment proposed by environmentalist MP Léa Balage El Mariky by a narrow margin of 84 to 77 votes. This amendment effectively rewrote a key article of the bill sponsored by Renaissance deputy Charles Rodwell, which sought to detain foreigners convicted of serious offenses against persons who pose a serious threat to public order. The left-wing parties supported the amendment, arguing that the proposal would turn administrative centers into prisons, while the right, center, and far-right opposed it. Currently, the maximum detention duration is 90 days, or 180 days for terrorism convictions. Although a separate article reestablishing detention extensions for terrorism convicts was adopted, it now requires a parliamentary report on effectiveness. The entire text is scheduled for a global vote on May 5, with further revisions expected in the Senate.
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French National Assembly Rejects Seven-Month Detention Extension for Dangerous Foreigners
On April 16, 2026, the French National Assembly rejected a controversial government measure aimed at extending the administrative detention period for foreigners deemed dangerous from 90 days to seven months (210 days). The decision followed a tense vote in an electric atmosphere, where deputies adopted an amendment proposed by environmentalist MP Léa Balage El Mariky by a narrow margin of 84 to 77 votes. This amendment effectively rewrote a key article of the bill sponsored by Renaissance deputy Charles Rodwell, which sought to detain foreigners convicted of serious offenses against persons who pose a serious threat to public order. The left-wing parties supported the amendment, arguing that the proposal would turn administrative centers into prisons, while the right, center, and far-right opposed it. Currently, the maximum detention duration is 90 days, or 180 days for terrorism convictions. Although a separate article reestablishing detention extensions for terrorism convicts was adopted, it now requires a parliamentary report on effectiveness. The entire text is scheduled for a global vote on May 5, with further revisions expected in the Senate.
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