Fuyant les guerres d'Afrique, près de 1 800 mineurs ont débarqué illégalement à Roissy l'an dernier. Enfermés avec les adultes, parfois malmenés par la police des frontières, certains s'évaporent dans la nature mais à quel prix ? Entre réseaux de prostitution et ateliers clandestins, le rêve de liberté tourne souvent au cauchemar.
This 15-year old Chinese boy came alone to a court in Bobigny with a letter requesting that he be placed in a hostel. He left China to live with his aunt in Italy for a year, as his parents were sick. His aunt, who no longer had the means to support him, paid for his train ticket to Paris. Two weeks later, after having contacted a certain 'teacher', he arrived in court with this letter. Here, tired, after his long voyage, he waits patiently for French youth workers to come and take him to a hostel.
WEL0109887x © Laurent Weyl
This 15-year old Chinese boy came alone to a court in Bobigny with a letter requesting that he be placed in a hostel. He left China to live with his aunt in Italy for a year, as his parents were sick. His aunt, who no longer had the means to support him, paid for his train ticket to Paris. Two weeks later, after having contacted a certain 'teacher', he arrived in court with this letter.
WEL0109908x © Laurent Weyl
This 15-year old Chinese boy came alone to a court in Bobigny with a letter requesting that he be placed in a hostel. The SEAT - a group of court youth workers - interview the boy with a translator (left) to learn his story and evaluate the situation. After that, the minors' section of the public prosecutor's department will be alerted and will also deliberate. A judge will decide whether or not the child will be placed in a hostel.
WEL0109886x © Laurent Weyl
Bobigny Tribunal, in front of the 'salle des 35 bis, 35 quater'. In this room, decisions are made to free, or to retain for a certain period, illegal aliens who find themselves in temporary waiting or holding zones. A minor who arrives in the territory is not legally able to be expelled and his retention in a waiting zone cannot exceed 2 x 24 hours; beyond that, the judge of the '35 quater' must free him or her.
WEL0109906x © Laurent Weyl
Hôtel-Dieu Hospital, medico-legal emergency services directed by Dr. Odile Diamant Berger. After having been declared 'adult' by the court after an initial examination of bone cartilage, this young Indian was able to obtain papers from his native country certifying that he is a minor. Here, the ASE (Aide Sociale à l'Enfance) decides to deal with the child's case. Here, we see the Dr. Diamant Berger who, after having seen the X-rays, declares that nothing proves that the child is over 17 years of age.
WEL0109896x © Laurent Weyl
Réalisé en 2001. Hôpital de l’Hôtel-Dieu, service des urgences médico-judiciaires dirigé par le Docteur Odile Diamant Berger. Après avoir été déclaré majeur par le tribunal suite à un premier examen d’âge osseux, ce jeune Indien a pu obtenir de son pays d’origine des papiers attestant qu'il est mineur. Aussi l'ASE décide de prendre en charge l'enfant. Ici, détail de la radio.
WEL0109897x © Laurent Weyl
ASE Hostel in Montfermeil. This young muslim boy from Sierra Leone just turned 18 and will be advised to sign a Young Adult contract, which will guarantee him follow-up and assistance from the Aide Sociale à l'Enfance. Here, he says his prayers before going to bed.
WEL0109890x © Laurent Weyl
ASE Hostel in Montfermeil. This young boy from Sierra Leone just turned 18 and will be advised to sign a Young Adult contract, which will guarantee him follow-up and assistance from the Aide Sociale à l'Enfance. Here, he plays table soccer at the hostel.
WEL0109888x © Laurent Weyl
ASE Hostel in Montfermeil. This young boy from Sierra Leone just turned 18 and will be advised to sign a Young Adult contract, which will guarantee him follow-up and assistance from the Aide Sociale à l'Enfance.
WEL0109889x © Laurent Weyl
The CAOMIDA (Centre d’Acueil et d’Orientation pour les Mineurs Isolés Demandeurs d’Asile) in Boissy St-Léger. This young woman (17) comes from Congo-Brazzaville, in the Congo.
WEL0109891x © Laurent Weyl
CAOMIDA (Centre d’Acueil et d’Orientation pour les Mineurs Isolés Demandeurs d’Asile) in Boissy St-Léger. An Afghan who fled the Taliban, this 17 year old minor, like his Chechen friend, have found a way to channel their energy, amplify their motivation to succeed or perhaps simply to live, through boxing.
WEL0109893x © Laurent Weyl
The CAOMIDA (Centre d’Acueil et d’Orientation pour les Mineurs Isolés Demandeurs d’Asile) in Boissy St-Léger. This young man arrived in France after fleeing the Taliban. Now legally an adult, he is advised to sign a Young Adult contract, which will guarantee him follow-up and assistance from the ASE (Aide Sociale à l'Enfance).
WEL0109892x © Laurent Weyl
The CAOMIDA (Centre d’Acueil et d’Orientation pour les Mineurs Isolés Demandeurs d’Asile) in Boissy St-Léger. Djoura is a teacher of 'French as a foreign language'. These language learning classes are vital for the children to be able to continue their schooling as quickly as possible, and to be able to attend a school in France.
WEL0109895x © Laurent Weyl
Retention zone in Mesnil-Amelot. This is where illegal immigrant are held before being sent back to their countries.
WEL0109894x © Laurent Weyl