Anti-immigrant demonstrations erupted across various towns and cities in Poland over the weekend, drawing attention to the escalating tensions surrounding immigration policy in the country. While most events attracted crowds numbering in the hundreds, the largest protest in the southern city of Katowice saw approximately 3,000 attendees. The rallies were spearheaded by the far-right political group Konfederacja in conjunction with other nationalist organizations.
Prominent figures from Konfederacja, along with supporters from the opposition Law and Justice party, have been vocal about their concerns regarding what they describe as a crisis involving illegal immigration to Poland. However, official government statistics contradict these claims, suggesting that migration levels have actually decreased in recent months compared to previous years. "Without closing Poland to illegal immigration, without starting deportation campaigns, without abandoning political correctness, security will gradually deteriorate," warned Krzysztof Bosak, co-chairman of Konfederacja, during a speech in Bialystok.
In an emotional gesture, some rallies featured a moment of silence honoring a 24-year-old Polish woman who was tragically murdered in Torun. In Warsaw, two opposing rallies occurred simultaneously just blocks apart, yet reports indicate that the gatherings remained peaceful, with no incidents of violence. In connection with the murder investigation, a Venezuelan man has been arrested.
Despite claims from right-wing politicians of an impending flood of illegal migrants, official reports reveal that immigration numbers for this year are lower than those from previous years. In reaction to the rising concern, Poland has recently implemented stricter border checks with Germany and Lithuania, following Germany's decision to reject asylum seekers arriving from Poland. Earlier this month, Poland also paused the right to asylum applications for migrants entering from Belarus, further exemplifying the country’s tightening stance on immigration.
