Mayotte: Édouard Philippe wants to completely close the "flow of immigration"

Édouard Philippe wants to make restoring immigration control in Mayotte a national priority. On the eve of a two-day visit to the archipelago, the Horizons candidate for the 2027 presidential election pledged to completely close the "flow taps of immigration" in the department. He believes that population density and economic difficulties now necessitate exceptional measures.

The former Prime Minister has pledged, among other things, to suspend the registration of all new asylum applications in Mayotte for the duration of the next five-year term. While reiterating his commitment to the right to asylum, he believes the territory can no longer accommodate new arrivals under the current conditions. Mayotte had approximately 323,000 inhabitants as of January 1, 2026, nearly half of whom were foreign nationals, primarily from the Comoros.

A return center is being considered in East Africa.

He also wants to create a "French return center" in East Africa to quickly remove undocumented immigrants from Mayotte. This proposal specifically targets migrants from the Great Lakes region, who are increasingly reaching the archipelago via the Comoros. The candidate denounces this new migration route, which he believes will worsen an already uncontrollable local situation.

The president of Horizons also proposes a complete suspension of birthright citizenship in Mayotte for several years, following its tightening by a law adopted in 2025. He also advocates a moratorium on family reunification and on the various legal pathways into the department for the entire five-year presidential term. Visiting Mayotte on Friday and Saturday before heading to Réunion, Édouard Philippe intends to present two priorities: regaining control of immigration and accelerating reconstruction and the development of major infrastructure projects following Cyclone Chido.