Anger towards migrants is growing fast in Poland after a tragic event in June. In the city of Torun, a Venezuelan man stabbed a 24-year-old Polish woman named Klaudia to death as she walked home. This crime led to protests and silent marches in many cities. Thousands of people joined, holding signs that said “stop illegal immigration.”
Soon after, false stories started spreading. In Walbrzych, police were called about a Paraguayan man who was accused of taking pictures of children. The police found nothing wrong, but two men still attacked him. Later, about 50 people stormed the hostel where he lived, threw flares, and forced it to close.
Far-right political parties like Konfederacja are using these events to spread fear. They say migrants are stealing jobs and making Poland unsafe. Some leaders even defend xenophobia. One MP claimed that fear of foreigners helps keep the country strong.
Migrants say they are being blamed unfairly. Elmi Abdi, a Somali man who came to Poland in 1996, says politicians treat migrants like scapegoats. He runs a group called the Good Start Foundation, which helps migrants with language classes and legal aid. He says most migrants pay taxes and work hard to be part of Polish society.
The Polish Migration Forum says the current situation is very serious. People are being threatened, insulted, and even attacked. The head of the group called it “pre-pogrom-like,” meaning it feels like something bad could happen soon if the government does nothing.
Poland has also tightened its borders. It now checks people entering from Germany and Lithuania. Though Germany legally returns migrants who first arrived in Poland, online rumors claim these returns are illegal. Far-right patrols have even started watching borders and trying to arrest people, though they have not been successful.
Meanwhile, the EU says that Belarus and Russia are making things worse by helping migrants reach the Polish border to create problems. In response, Poland built a fence on the Belarus border and, in March, stopped letting people apply for asylum altogether.
On July 19, anti-migrant marches took place in 80 towns and cities. People shouted racist slogans, waved Polish flags, and said they no longer feel safe in their own country. Teenagers like Nikola joined after watching anti-migrant videos online. Some protesters even said that Poland is being “humiliated” and should protect its borders by any means.
At the same time, smaller counter-protests were held, and police had to keep the two groups apart. Migrants like Abdi said they stayed home out of fear.
Experts say Poland is not facing a large migrant crisis. In fact, only 2.2% of its population is foreign-born, much lower than in other European countries. Most migrants try to follow the rules. But many politicians don’t talk about the positive impact migrants have, like helping the economy.
Abdi, who has a Polish wife and two children, says he once felt welcome in Poland. Now, he’s afraid for his kids. “People are shouting they want a white Poland. I’m not afraid for myself, but I worry for my children,” he said.