France has quietly resumed the deportation of Algerian nationals in recent weeks, signalling a discreet but significant shift in migration co-operation between Paris and Algiers after almost a year of blockage.
According to France Info, the operational restart has taken place without official announcements, reflecting the sensitivity of the issue on both sides.
French authorities have once again begun enforcing Obligations to Leave French Territory (OQTFs), administrative deportation orders issued to foreign nationals without legal residency status.
These expulsions had been largely suspended since April 2025, when Algeria stopped issuing the consular travel documents required to identify individuals and authorise their return. Without such documents, removals are legally and practically impossible.
The recent breakthrough is linked to the renewed delivery of these laissez-passers — secure, official travel documents — by Algerian authorities.
Since then, deportations have resumed gradually, with priority reportedly given to individuals considered dangerous or convicted of serious offences. In one recent case, seven Algerian nationals were deported in a single day.
The cautious resumption follows a visit to Algiers in February 2026 by French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, who sought to revive security and migration dialogue. His approach marked a shift towards a more conciliatory relationship after months of heightened diplomatic tensions.
Relations between the two countries had deteriorated over several contentious issues, including France’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and the imprisonment in Algeria of writer Boualem Sansal. Those disputes contributed to the suspension of consular co-operation and a broader freeze in bilateral relations.
The impasse had become a major problem for French authorities, as OQTF enforcement has long been one of the most politically sensitive areas of the country’s migration policy. Successive governments have faced criticism over the gap between the number of deportation orders issued and the number actually carried out, particularly when countries of origin refuse to co-operate.
Algeria has traditionally been one of France’s most important migration partners because of the scale of the Algerian community in France and the depth of historical, diplomatic and security ties between the two countries. Any disruption in consular co-operation therefore has immediate operational consequences for French immigration enforcement.
While the recent developments suggest a willingness on both sides to de-escalate, the process remains fragile.
French officials have welcomed the first results but remain cautious, as the continuation of expulsions depends heavily on sustained political goodwill from Algiers. For now, the normalisation of migration co-operation appears to be under way — but deliberately kept low-profile.
