Rising Anti-Immigrant Sentiment and Policies Across Europe

In the past year, tens of thousands hostile to immigrants marched through London, chanting, 'send them home!' A British lawmaker complained of seeing too many non-white faces on TV, as senior politicians advocated the deportation of longtime U.K. residents born abroad.

The overt demonization of immigrants and those with immigrant roots is intensifying in the U.K. and across Europe as migration shoots up the political agenda and right-wing parties gain popularity. Political parties that favor mass deportations and depict immigration as a threat to national identity, such as Reform U.K., the AfD, or Alternative for Germany, and France's National Rally, are now leading in opinion polls.

President Donald Trump, who has made derogatory remarks about immigrants, appears to be endorsing and emboldening anti-immigrant sentiments in Europe. Amid rising tensions, mainstream parties in Europe are taking a harder line on migration and using divisive language.

Experts attribute the growing antipathy toward diversity and migration to several factors, including economic stagnation since the 2008 global financial crisis, the rise of charismatic nationalist politicians, and the polarizing influence of social media.

Bobby Duffy from Kings College London noted a frightening increase in the sense of national division in Britain, which tends to push people toward political extremes. This sentiment took root after the financial crisis, was reinforced by Brexit, and deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Social media, particularly on platforms like X, has exacerbated divisive content. Ethnonationalism has been promoted by right-wing parties across Europe, and the rhetoric has alarmed many politicians while echoing far-right parties.

In the U.K., the hard-right party Reform U.K. proposes stripping immigrants of permanent-resident status, and the Conservative opposition suggests deporting British citizens with dual nationality who commit crimes.

The U.K. recorded over 115,000 hate crimes in the year leading to March 2025, reflecting a 2% increase from the previous year, with a noted rise in racial abuse. Anti-immigrant violence surged in July 2024, triggered by misinformation surrounding a stabbing incident involving a U.K.-born teenager.

Protests against asylum centers have occurred in Ireland and the Netherlands, some of which turned violent. In September, over 100,000 people participated in a London protest organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, featuring speeches from figures like French politician Eric Zemmour, who warned of a 'great replacement' of European culture.

While mainstream politicians condemn such conspiracy theories, the center-left Labour Party in the U.K. has also adopted tougher immigration policies. Human rights advocates worry that yielding to the far right leads to increasingly extreme policies.

Politicians have been criticized for using the language of the far right, exemplified by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's comments about Britain becoming an 'island of strangers'. Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz faced backlash for comments about Germany's 'Stadtbild' addressing concerns about immigration.

Michael O'Flaherty, the Council of Europe human rights commissioner, expressed concerns about the escalating demands of the far right. Duffy argued that politicians should be responsible for their rhetoric, although he acknowledged that the perception of divisiveness as politically effective has taken hold.

According to The Seattle Times, the growing trend of anti-immigrant sentiment and policies across Europe reflects a significant shift in political landscapes, impacting social dynamics and international relations across the continent.