French riot police finally shut down the months-long illegal occupation of Paris’s Gaîté Lyrique cultural venue, clashing with demonstrators and arresting 46 migrants in the process.
The dramatic eviction, which took place early Tuesday morning, ended a chaotic three-month standoff that had drawn the backing of far-left politicians but left the venue financially crippled and its neighborhood in turmoil.
The operation kicked off at dawn, with protesters—riled up by the radical-left La France Insoumise party—attempting to block law enforcement from entering the building. Tear gas filled the air as riot police pushed back demonstrators, some of whom threw objects and disrupted traffic. Many squatters had already fled under the cover of night, fearing arrest or deportation.
Authorities offered temporary housing in Rouen, a city about 130 kilometers from Paris, but many migrants refused, arguing that relocation would interfere with their asylum claims or schooling. Those who declined found themselves subject to immediate police checks and, in some cases, detention.
Paris police prefect Laurent Nuñez confirmed minor injuries to six migrants, a journalist, and a police officer during the operation. He defended the move, citing the deteriorating conditions inside the occupied theater, which had suffered severe damage, including graffiti-covered walls and broken facilities. He also suggested that some detainees could face deportation, depending on their immigration status.
Not everyone was on board with the eviction. Leftist MP Danielle Simonnet blasted the police action as “extremely violent” and labeled the removal order “scandalous,” accusing the government of bowing to “far-right racist demands.” On the other hand, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo supported the decision, calling the occupation unsafe for both the migrants and the venue.
The Gaîté Lyrique, ironically known for championing progressive causes, has been financially devastated by the squatter crisis. Management admitted to suffering “heavy operating losses” and struggling to pay its 60 employees after the migrants refused to vacate the premises—even during a pro-open-borders conference last December.
Local businesses weren’t spared either. Elia, who runs a nearby bistro, reported losing €30,000 in revenue. “They’re ruining my business,” she lamented, describing how the squatters lingered outside, smoking joints and fighting. “We lost all the theatergoers, and now even passers-by are scared off.”
With the eviction complete, the city is left grappling with the aftermath—while the political firestorm over France’s handling of illegal immigration shows no signs of cooling down.
