A small group is playing soccer in the yard. Many sleep on well-aligned shag beds. Of course the cell phone: “The first thing they ask when they arrive is the WiFi code,” smiles Philippe, the director of the Pausa center in Bayonne. On that day, the reception for migrants in transit accommodated 89 people. “Last month there were about 50. Maybe by this evening we will have 30 arrivals. We can never know. » Since it opened at the end of 2018, more than 32,000 displaced people have passed through the site. With rudimentary comfort, but dignified.
The Basque Country Municipality (CAPB) finances and manages the structure in which “undocumented immigrants” who are illegally present in French territory are deployed. Pausa, a “legal” device, Pirouette Jean-René Etchegaray…
A small group is playing soccer in the yard. Many sleep on well-aligned shag beds. Of course the cell phone: “The first thing they ask when they arrive is the WiFi code,” smiles Philippe, the director of the Pausa center in Bayonne. On that day, the reception for migrants in transit accommodated 89 people. “Last month there were about 50. Maybe by this evening we will have 30 arrivals. We can never know. » Since it opened at the end of 2018, more than 32,000 displaced people have passed through the site. With rudimentary comfort, but dignified.
The Basque Country Municipality (CAPB) finances and manages the structure in which “undocumented immigrants” who are illegally present in French territory are deployed. Pausa, a “legal” remedy, Pirouette Jean-René Etchegaray, the mayor of Bayonne and municipal president. The state acts as if nothing had happened. A kind of “solar paradox” in a France where the National Assembly has just passed an immigration law that the extreme right is celebrating with champagne (1).
Security and humanity
Keïta, Bamba, Arouna, Alama… The first names written in felt-tip pen on a wall in the middle refer to Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali… “In February 2019, we registered 258 people on the same day. That's the record. » European border policy and the dangers of transiting through Libya then lead to displaced people being diverted from the central Mediterranean towards the Straits of Gibraltar, Ceuta and Melilla. Spain, the border, Bayonne. “We are the first city from which Macron buses depart for regional metropolises,” notes Jean-René Etchegaray.
Some are worried about the migrants, others have a fear reflex.”
On All Saints Day 2018, migrants shiver in the Place des Basques, where the bus station is still located. Volunteers improvise solidarity with the resources available. They founded the Diakite Association (2). “They are the ones behind the admission of migrants, originally it was a citizens’ initiative,” says the elected official. The community will pass on this goodwill. Jean-René Etchegaray does not hide the letters from residents, “some are worried about the migrants, others in a reflex of fear”. He argues as “a matter of public policy” and calls for “the duty of humanity” to open and develop former military buildings, 600 m2 that will soon be called Pausa. He is also relocating the bus station in the immediate vicinity.
” Uncle “
The vast majority of men, some women and children pass Pausa. Minors will be referred to Child Protective Services (ASE).
Bertrand Lapègue/ “SOUTHWEST”
“He has to go. Check the folder to see if today's departures are listed there. » Philippe organizes the structure with seven employees, supported by volunteers. The children call Philippe “uncle” “because they are 20 years old.” They can rest in Pausa for three days and nights, men and women in different wings. “On average they stay a day and a half. You can quickly take the bus to Paris or other big cities. » A map of France drawn on the wall shows the most important ones. “Some arrive without even knowing they are in France. »
To our knowledge, it is the only space of this type that exists in France.”
During their Basque stopover, they rest, eat their fill, take a hot shower and get dressed if necessary. You can be cared for. Legal information. Transportation information. You must adhere to schedules and attend the interview. You are handed an entry form, internal rules in one line: “No violence, no alcohol or drugs, no smoking inside.” » “Sometimes we were criticized for our harshness, but we accept that,” says Jean-René Etchegaray. They don’t perceive the setting as coercive, but rather as calming,” assures Philippe.
1 million euros per year
Laure Palun, director of the National Association for Border Assistance for Foreigners (Anafé), visited Pausa last April. “As far as we know, it is the only space of this type that exists in France. » Understand a place created, financially and politically taken over by the community and, moreover, located at the entrance to the territory. “It is unique and impressed us. Experiences like Grande-Synthe used to be aimed at people who wanted to leave the country. »
Five years ago, the city of Bayonne, and then very soon the Basque region, voted to take over Pausa. The intermunicipality provides 1 million euros annually for this purpose. The man at the helm of the two communities called Renaissance governs with right-wing elected officials and notes that he has “no difficulty on this issue.” Distortion between the reality on the ground imposed on local elected officials and national decisions based on anemometers? “We have these people in front of us, we cannot be indifferent. And their presence presents us with a concrete question that needs to be addressed. »
Five women who arrived pregnant in Pausa left the hospital in Bayonne with the child they had given birth to.
Bertrand Lapègue/ “SOUTHWEST”
“We fried ourselves”
In the early days “we clashed with the state”. “The sub-prefect at the time told me: 'You will prepare a draft'. But they were there! » Jean-René Etchegaray sees Pausa as “the consequence of a political misunderstanding about immigration”, even “hypocrisy”. People will not stop fleeing poverty, persecution or conflict. “We assume a humanitarian obligation and take initiatives that do not fall within our remit. » The agglomeration intends to have the state's failure recognized. In 2020, she sued him before the administrative court so that he would “reimburse” her the amounts in the Pausa case.
We will no longer be held responsible for anything. Things are in good condition, well maintained. Maybe this will suit everyone…”
The Pyrénées-Atlantiques prefecture responded in writing to questions from Sud Ouest that the creation of the center was “not subject to coordination with the state.” The Pau administrative court ruled on October 18, 2022 that the latter owes the local community nothing. The plaintiff lodged an appeal. It is based in particular on two resolutions of the State Council from 2019 and 2022, which remind the state of its protective mandate. “The proceedings are ongoing, but a kind of modus vivendi has been established. We will no longer be held responsible for anything. Things are in good condition, well maintained. Maybe that suits everyone…” jokes Jean-René Etchegaray.
The first names on the walls locate the most important places of origin in sub-Saharan Africa.
Bertrand Lapègue/ “SOUTHWEST”
(1) The Constitutional Council must analyze it on January 25th. (2) The associations Diakite, Etorkinekin, Cimade, etc. are actors in a very active chain of solidarity with migrants in the Basque Country.