A group of people opposed to the construction of a detention center for migrants were arrested in Nantes. The following day, the first trees were cut down in the wetland area, which is home to protected species. Over the weekend of September 5 and 6, several dozen individuals took action against the planned administrative detention center (CRA) in the Champ-de-Manœuvre woods near Nantes. In response, some of the activists were handcuffed, taken into custody, and six were chased. A removal operation was conducted the next day. Since 2022, the French government has planned to build a detention center on a 5-hectare site near the Nantes prison, where undocumented immigrants would be held. This area includes a forest and a wetland that supports several streams and nearly 30 protected animal species. Local residents, elected officials, and trade unionists have been actively working to stop the project from moving forward. Alice, a member of the Aralb Beaujoire neighborhood association, described the project as "a concentrate of all the evils of the planet," citing "massive destructions" and the intention to "imprison people in disastrous conditions just because they don't have papers." The prefecture approved the building permit on August 18, though it was only publicly announced on August 25, and granted environmental authorization on September 1. These developments convinced opponents to take more direct action. Tim, a member of Extinction Rebellion Nantes, said the government was trying to speed up the project, prompting activists to act to slow down the construction. Nails were placed in trees to protect them from being cut down by machines. Approximately 150 trees were marked in this way, surrounding the area where the CRA would be built. The activists aimed to delay the arrival of construction machinery before the site was concreted. The nails were placed at a 45-degree angle to avoid injuring people, and each tree was marked with a symbol to warn workers of the nails. According to Justine, also from Extinction Rebellion Nantes, the activists took these precautions to avoid harming the workers. The activists were not charged for endangering others, but six people are now facing charges for participating in a group planning violence or damage. Their lawyer, Stéphane Vallée, called these charges "very cynical." Opponents of the project are continuing to challenge it legally. A first appeal against the project's approval was filed in early April and is still awaiting review by the administrative court. Many indicators were negative, including a public consultation with 94% opposition, and unfavorable opinions from the City of Nantes, the Regional Scientific Council for Natural Heritage, and the Local Water Commission. The Aralb Beaujoire neighborhood association, along with unions and environmental groups, also filed an appeal against the building permit, which will be reviewed on September 14. The Colère collective, a group of organizations opposing the project, plans to mobilize again on September 19 and October 10 to continue the fight against the CRA.