Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in at least two European cities on Saturday, highlighting ongoing political divisions over immigration policies.

In Rome, thousands of people joined rival demonstrations, with one rally drawing anti-immigration activists and the other attracting supporters of migrant and refugee rights.

Meanwhile, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, thousands paraded to condemn a wave of anti-immigrant violence that erupted earlier this week. The unrest, which included riots, fires, and clashes with police, was triggered after a Sudanese asylum seeker was charged in connection with a stabbing attack that left a person with serious injuries.

The demonstrations come a day after implementation of the European Union’s Migration and Asylum Pact. The new framework aims to standardize the screening of migrants, streamline the processing of asylum applications, and coordinate responses to irregular migration across the 27-nation bloc.

Rival Anti- and Pro-Immigration Protests in Rome

In Italy, the demonstrations were sparked by a citizens' initiative known as "Remigration and Reconquest," whose petition surpassed the 50,000 signatures required to trigger consideration in Parliament.

Terminology and concepts like “remigration,” once largely confined to extremist political circles, is gaining renewed global prominence. Critics argue that in practice, the concept, which refers to the forced expulsion or return of immigrants, refugees, and at times ethnic minorities, can extend beyond undocumented migrants to include legal residents or even citizens, raising significant human rights concerns.

The proposal calls for measures aimed at reducing immigration, including incentives for some migrants to leave Italy and broader deportation policies. Parliament has not yet scheduled debate on the measure.

Several thousand supporters of the initiative and other anti-immigration groups gathered in Italy’s capital, singing the national anthem and carrying banners calling for stricter migration policies Saturday afternoon.

During the march, some participants gave fascist salutes and chanted "Duce! Duce!"—a reference to former Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.

At the same time, a rival, pro-migration demonstration brought thousands of people together including trade unions and various left-wing groups in another part of the city. Protestors marched behind a large banner in Italian reading, “Skin and sweat have the same color, no deportation.”

The U.S. Mission in Italy issued an alert about the protests on Friday, encouraging Americans to avoid the demonstrations and the area around the U.S. Embassy. It noted that most demonstrations began between 2 and 3 p.m. local time and ended before 8 p.m.

Immigration is a central policy priority for the Trump administration. Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth drew parallels during a D-Day commemoration in France between the Allied fight for freedom and contemporary debates over migration and national borders.

"Sadly, today different European beaches are stormed by different dangerous ideologies. Beaches in Spain and Italy and Greece and Bulgaria," Hegseth, who did not explicitly elaborate on the specific ideologies he was referencing, stated. "Boats and men arrive. When will European capitals do something about that invasion?"

President Donald Trump has advocated policies aimed at encouraging immigrants without legal status to voluntarily leave the United States, echoing some of the themes advanced by anti-immigration movements in Europe.

Anti-Racism Protests in Belfast

Thousands of protestors in Belfast also gathered on Saturday condemning recent racist and anti-immigrant riots that burned parts of Northern Ireland this week. Protestors in the anti-racism rally carried signs saying, “The problem is evil & violence not race,” “Your racism is not patriotism” and “Protect people not prejudice.” Saturday’s protest was nonviolent.

Earlier this week, violence erupted after a Sudanese man, Hadi Alodid, was charged over a knife attack Monday evening which left one person with serious head and neck wounds, including a lost eye. Video of the attack was widely circulated on Tuesday, sparking public outrage.

Alodid is charged with the attempted murder of Stephen Ogilvie on Monday and with threatening to kill a National Health Service radiographer on the same day and with the possession of a knife.

Masked groups set cars and buildings alight, and attacked properties believed to house migrants. They broke paving stones to use them as makeshift missiles. Police said at least 12 officers were injured.

Anti-immigration unrest in the city forced business closures, event cancellations and disruptions to Northern Ireland’s public transport network.

Earlier this week, Biji Jose, a nurse from India who has worked in Northern Ireland for 24 years, told Newsweek, “Many feel they are not safe walking outside, or for their children going to school, or even in their own home.”

She added: "The deliberate targeting of individuals and families is cruel, cowardly and utterly unacceptable.”