Montpellier protesters march against Béziers detention center

Between 300 and 400 people marched in Montpellier on Sunday, October 4, to protest the planned construction of an administrative detention center (CRA) in Béziers and to oppose confinement facilities more broadly.

Opponents of the project have filed a legal appeal against a prefectural decree that authorized the construction in the interest of the general public. Activists argue that detaining individuals does not serve the general interest. Representatives from Cimade Montpellier have criticized these centers as “zones of lawlessness” where individuals struggle to defend their rights, noting difficulties in accessing food and healthcare, and pointing out that detainees can be held for up to 210 days without being expelled.