Tunisia parliament moves to legalise migrant deportations
Tunisia's parliament is debating a new law that would allow the deportation of migrants living in the country without proper documents.
This comes at a time when anti-migrant feelings are growing in the country.
Some Tunisians believe claims that migrants are part of a plot to change Tunisia’s population makeup.
The proposed law would let authorities deport migrants back to their home countries.
However, it says exceptions will be made for those who might face torture or other inhumane treatment in their home countries.
The law will also make provision for migrants to challenge deportation orders in court, local news reports say.
In 2024, Tunisia said it successfully returned over 7,000 migrants to their home countries through what it called “voluntary” repatriations.
But human rights groups disagree, saying many of these returns were forced. Critics also say the new law may be a way to make forced deportations official.
In 2024, over 20,000 migrants from 22 African countries were living in Sfax Al-Amra, according to government data. Many migrants there live in poor conditions and face disease and malnutrition.
Anti-migrant policies in Tunisia have been under international scrutiny since 2023 when President Kais Saied made a speech accusing migrants from sub-Saharan Africa of being part of a conspiracy to change Tunisia’s demographics.
The speech led to violence against Black migrants, many of whom were evicted from their homes or lost their jobs.
Reports have since emerged of migrants being abandoned in the desert near Tunisia’s border or held in poor conditions in reception centres.
Some migrants said they were forced to sign deportation papers. Human rights groups have also accused Tunisian authorities of abuse, including cases of rape and violence against children.
