Anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies intensify across Europe

Tens of thousands of anti-immigrant protesters marched through London last year, chanting “send them home!” as part of a growing trend of overt hostility toward immigrants across Europe. This intensifying sentiment comes as migration dominates political agendas and right-wing parties gain unprecedented popularity in multiple European nations.

In countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, political parties advocating mass deportations and framing immigration as a threat to national identity are surging in opinion polls. Reform UK, Alternative for Germany (AfD), and France’s National Rally have all gained significant traction, pushing once-fringe views into mainstream political discourse.

“What were once dismissed as being at the far extreme end of far-right politics has now become a central part of the political debate,” explains Kieran Connell, a lecturer in British history at Queen’s University Belfast.

This shift isn’t occurring in isolation. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently referred to Somali immigrants in America as “garbage,” appears to be endorsing Europe’s anti-immigrant rhetoric. His administration’s national security strategy portrays European countries as threatened by immigration and facing “civilizational erasure,” language that has alarmed many European politicians while resonating with others.

National Rally leader Jordan Bardella told the BBC he largely agreed with the Trump administration’s assessment that mass immigration was “shaking the balance of European countries.”

The rise in anti-immigrant sentiment stems from multiple factors. While Europe has experienced increased immigration over the past decade—including millions of asylum-seekers from Africa, the Middle East, and Ukraine—experts point to additional catalysts. Economic stagnation following the 2008 financial crisis, the emergence of charismatic nationalist politicians, and the polarizing influence of social media have all contributed to the current climate.

In Britain specifically, Bobby Duffy, director of the Policy Unit at King’s College London, notes “a frightening increase in the sense of national division and decline” that began with the financial crisis, intensified during Brexit debates, and deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Social media platforms have exacerbated these divisions, particularly X (formerly Twitter), where algorithms promote divisive content and owner Elon Musk frequently amplifies far-right messaging.

The normalization of anti-immigrant rhetoric is evident in public discourse. A Reform UK lawmaker complained in October that advertisements were “full of Black people, full of Asian people,” while Conservative justice spokesman Robert Jenrick expressed concern about not seeing “another white face” in an area of Birmingham. Neither politician faced serious consequences for these remarks.

Dawn Butler, a Black British lawmaker, reports experiencing escalating harassment: “There is no doubt it has worsened. The vitriol I receive on social media is increasing drastically, and has escalated into death threats.”

Government statistics support these observations, showing police in England and Wales recorded more than 115,000 hate crimes in the year to March 2025, a 2% increase over the previous 12 months.

The summer of 2024 saw anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim violence erupt across Britain following the stabbing deaths of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. Authorities noted that online misinformation falsely identifying the UK-born teenage attacker as a Muslim migrant fueled the unrest.

Similar patterns have emerged elsewhere in Europe. In Ireland and the Netherlands, protests against proposed asylum centers have occasionally turned violent. In September, over 100,000 people marched through London chanting “We want our country back” in a demonstration organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson. French far-right politician Eric Zemmour addressed the crowd, claiming both France and the UK faced “the great replacement of our European people by peoples coming from the south and of Muslim culture.”

Even as mainstream politicians condemn such conspiracy theories, many are adopting stricter immigration policies. Britain’s center-left Labour government has announced measures making it harder for migrants to settle permanently, citing Denmark’s approach that has dramatically reduced asylum applications through temporary residence permits.

Human rights advocates warn that attempts to appease the right only lead to more extreme policies. “For every inch yielded, there’s going to be another inch demanded,” cautioned Council of Europe human rights commissioner Michael O’Flaherty. “Where does it stop? For example, the focus right now is on migrants, in large part. But who is it going to be about next time around?”

Politicians across the spectrum have faced criticism for adopting divisive rhetoric. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was criticized for saying Britain risked becoming an “island of strangers,” language reminiscent of Enoch Powell’s infamous 1968 anti-immigration speech. Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz sparked controversy with comments about Germany’s “Stadtbild” (cityscape) that critics felt implied non-German-looking people don’t belong.

Duffy suggests politicians should consider how their rhetoric shapes public attitudes, though he acknowledges this may be unrealistic. “The perception that this divisiveness works has taken hold,” he concluded.