French police patrol Alps as migrants attempt perilous crossing
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![French gendarmes patrol in search for illegal migrants on the French side of the border with Italy, in Montgenevre, in the French Alps, on December 8, 2023.](https://s.france24.com/media/display/9cea420a-9907-11ee-bd17-005056bf30b7/w:980/p:16x9/m:{"brand":"FRANCE24","lang":"EN","program":"","cartouche":"FRANCE","hash":"cfb5f520ee23624a3e924f0386b2616711f1f8175b3e58504410de045e2b00b6","title":"Migrants%20attempt%20perilous%20Alps%20crossing","id":"25aba80c-45fb-11ec-90e2-005056bf30b7"}/000_347N3YB.webp)
Despite freezing temperatures and peaks of more than 3,000 metres, around 10 to 20 migrants a day are attempting the perilous winter crossing through the Alps from Italy to France, French border police say. France has recently reinforced its patrols along the border following the arrival of thousands of migrants on the Italian island of Lampedusa earlier this year, but aid agencies say the increased police presence is actually making the crossing more dangerous.