In an unprecedented turn of events, the iconic Gaîté Lyrique theater in Paris has opened its doors to more than 300 homeless young immigrants, who have sought refuge within its walls. The occupants, predominantly from Africa, are camping out in the theater, sleeping on its floors at night, and are currently engaged in a fight for recognition of their age by the French government. They assert that they are unaccompanied minors, and as such, are entitled to crucial housing and social benefits.
This occupation, organized by the Belleville Park Youth Collective—a coalition of immigrant advocacy groups and left-wing activists—follows similar protests elsewhere in the city aimed at putting pressure on officials to provide shelter for vulnerable youths. Since the beginning of 2023, this collective has been instrumental in securing 800 shelter placements, yet the municipal government maintains that no additional spaces are available.
With many migrants facing preliminary determinations that challenge their claims of being minors, their situation becomes more precarious as they enter the appeals process in court. Notably, European nations are signatories to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and are thus obligated to extend special protections to undocumented minors, including access to adequate housing.
As the number of young immigrants continues to rise, the issue of verifying their ages has ignited fierce debates amid growing anti-immigrant sentiments in Europe, fueling the rise of far-right political movements. Sociologists like Ulrike Bialas highlight the seriousness of this crisis, stating, “This is a huge issue in Europe,” as countries grapple with providing support for unaccompanied minors amidst prevailing societal tensions.
