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French Police Expel Migrants from Makeshift Camps French Police Expel Migrants From Makeshift Camps
(about 5 hours later)
LONDON — Days after populist anti-immigration parties scored broad successes in European elections, the French riot police moved in to dismantle makeshift campsites housing hundreds of migrants seeking to reach Britain from the port of Calais in northern France.LONDON — Days after populist anti-immigration parties scored broad successes in European elections, the French riot police moved in to dismantle makeshift campsites housing hundreds of migrants seeking to reach Britain from the port of Calais in northern France.
The timing of the move was depicted as a coincidence by the French authorities, who said the migrants had been warned a week ago that they would have to move because of an outbreak of scabies, a skin infection.The timing of the move was depicted as a coincidence by the French authorities, who said the migrants had been warned a week ago that they would have to move because of an outbreak of scabies, a skin infection.
The down-at-heel campsites housed fugitives from countries including Afghanistan and Iraq who are seeking to smuggle themselves aboard trucks crossing the 22 miles of water, either by tunnel or by ferry, that separates France from Britain.The down-at-heel campsites housed fugitives from countries including Afghanistan and Iraq who are seeking to smuggle themselves aboard trucks crossing the 22 miles of water, either by tunnel or by ferry, that separates France from Britain.
The evacuation of the migrants came just days after parties such as the extreme-right National Front in France and the populist U.K. Independence Party in Britain made striking gains in elections to the European Parliament.The evacuation of the migrants came just days after parties such as the extreme-right National Front in France and the populist U.K. Independence Party in Britain made striking gains in elections to the European Parliament.
Both parties want to curb migration and claw back national rights from the 28-nation European Union. The successes of such groups in France, Britain, Denmark and Greece challenged European leaders at a gathering in Brussels on Tuesday to work out strategies to shield mainstream political parties from the insurgent groups.Both parties want to curb migration and claw back national rights from the 28-nation European Union. The successes of such groups in France, Britain, Denmark and Greece challenged European leaders at a gathering in Brussels on Tuesday to work out strategies to shield mainstream political parties from the insurgent groups.
In France, the National Front finished ahead of both main parties — the Socialists of President François Hollande, which placed a humiliating third, and the Union for a Popular Movement, the party of former President Nicolas Sarkozy. In the Pas-de-Calais region close to the port of Calais, the National Front had a particularly strong showing, taking one of every three votes, according to official results.In France, the National Front finished ahead of both main parties — the Socialists of President François Hollande, which placed a humiliating third, and the Union for a Popular Movement, the party of former President Nicolas Sarkozy. In the Pas-de-Calais region close to the port of Calais, the National Front had a particularly strong showing, taking one of every three votes, according to official results.
News reports on Wednesday said that many migrants had already packed their bags and left voluntarily for undisclosed destinations. But others refused to board buses provided by the French authorities because they did not know where they were being taken, the reports said.News reports on Wednesday said that many migrants had already packed their bags and left voluntarily for undisclosed destinations. But others refused to board buses provided by the French authorities because they did not know where they were being taken, the reports said.
The area around Calais has been dotted with shabby migrant settlements since 2002, when a Red Cross detention center at Sangatte was closed down in a dramatic operation ordered by Mr. Sarkozy, then the interior minister. But migrants have continued to return to the area, drawn by what they depict as the hope of a welcome in Britain, even though the British authorities make little secret of their desire to control immigration both from far-flung war zones and from countries closer to home in the European Union.The area around Calais has been dotted with shabby migrant settlements since 2002, when a Red Cross detention center at Sangatte was closed down in a dramatic operation ordered by Mr. Sarkozy, then the interior minister. But migrants have continued to return to the area, drawn by what they depict as the hope of a welcome in Britain, even though the British authorities make little secret of their desire to control immigration both from far-flung war zones and from countries closer to home in the European Union.