For decades, Western Europe has been a magnet for mass migration as millions of arrivals from North Africa and the Middle East have poured into the continent. But now, even some on the left are beginning to question the wisdom of flooding European society with foreigners who don’t share the language, culture, or history of native populations.
Nowhere is the backlash against mass migration more evident than in Denmark, which has quietly shifted from an open borders haven to a model for strict immigration enforcement.
Perhaps most surprisingly, this change has been driven in part by center-left Social Democrats who are suddenly sounding a lot like conservatives, expressing concerns about social cohesion and the strain on public resources posed by importing mass numbers of migrants from poor nations.
Denmark was notably an early signatory of the 1951 Refugee Convention and, in 1983, passed the Aliens Act – one of Europe’s more liberal immigration laws at the time – which offered broad protections for anyone claiming refugee status, including welfare benefits and family reunification rights.
But in the mid-2010s, Denmark, along with the rest of Europe, began seeing an astronomical rise in immigration, sparking concerns about integration, crime, and pressure on the country’s robust welfare system. Public anxiety grew, especially in working-class suburbs outside Copenhagen, where immigrant populations surged. Together, these pressures set the stage for a political shift that would redefine Denmark’s immigration policies.
Under the current Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, who has been in office since 2019, Denmark’s Social Democrats have taken a firm stance on immigration, setting a clear “zero vision” goal to eliminate asylum applications. This includes the “jewelry law,” which lets authorities confiscate valuables from asylum seekers to help cover their expenses, and a significant cut in benefits for most migrants – providing only food and no cash support.
To promote social cohesion, Denmark also passed a “parallel societies” law in 2018, which aims to dismantle ethnic enclaves by reducing the concentration of non-Western immigrants in certain neighborhoods through housing quotas, tougher penalties for crimes, and mandatory integration measures. The government argues that these enclaves hinder assimilation and lead to higher crime rates.
Denmark also supports its tough stance with targeted messaging campaigns in high-immigration source countries to send a clear message that it is no longer an easy destination.
As a result of this approach, asylum applications have now dropped to a 40-year low. The country’s border laws are strictly enforced, and those who arrive in Denmark and can’t demonstrate a credible asylum claim are placed in secure detention centers.
Frederiksen explained her rationale for this tough stance in an interview with The New York Times. “There is a price to pay when too many people enter your society,” she said. “Those who pay the highest price of this, it’s the working class or lower class in the society. It is not — let me be totally direct — it’s not the rich people. It is not those of us with good salaries, good jobs.”
Frederiksen’s approach has paid off politically, as her party continues to win elections and pick up seats. While migration issues elsewhere in Western Europe have helped boost the popularity of more traditionally right-wing parties, Frederiksen has effectively co-opted that issue to entrench the Social Democrats in power.
Critics claim the government’s policies are harsh and accuse it of damaging Denmark’s international image. Several policies, including the parallel societies law, face legal challenges in European courts over claims of discrimination. But the government stands firm, insisting these steps are essential to protect Danish society and ensure migrants integrate and contribute responsibly.
Denmark’s shift reflects a broader European trend toward tighter immigration controls, with countries like Germany, Sweden, and France also adopting more restrictive policies amid mounting backlash from native populations. As a result, the traditional political lines around immigration have blurred – conservative and liberal parties alike are now increasingly endorsing measures once championed only by right-wing parties.
Europe’s burgeoning anti-immigration trend may get a further boost this summer as Frederiksen prepares to take over the European Union’s rotating presidency. As Politico recently reported, “two EU diplomats said that Copenhagen would try to advance many of the same issues that Frederiksen has championed on the home front — namely stricter rules for asylum-seekers.”
For Americans, the lesson here is clear. Liberals in the United States love to venerate their counterparts in Europe – until they expose the flaws in leftist ideology. Across the continent, even progressive governments are now admitting what the left in the U.S. still refuses to: unchecked mass migration is political suicide, particularly when you mix in bloated welfare regimes.
Denmark’s Social Democrats are adapting out of necessity. Sooner or later, liberals in the United States will face the same choice – either acknowledge that mass migration is a losing issue with voters, or resign themselves to permanent minority party status in a country that has rejected their failed ideas.
Sarah Katherine Sisk is a proud Hillsdale College alumna and a master’s student in economics at George Mason University. You can follow her on X @SKSisk76.
Probably too late for Europe. The US should really look carefully at what happened there and NOT let it happen here. ALL illegals MUST leave, not just the criminals. People can come here LEGALLY, we do welcome immigrants and always have. But, legally. The illegals here blew it because they became criminals the minute they crossed the border illegally. America cannot absorb the refugees of the world and the liberals had better wake up and stop lying about our brave law enforcement personnel doing their jobs. I believe illegal immigration reform is what got Trump elected, hence the liberals doing everything they can to lie about what is happening. Alligator Alcatraz facilities are MUCH nicer than the foil wrapped kids in cages under Obama!!!
“American institutions rest solely on good citizenship. They were created by people who had a background of self-government. New arrivals should be limited to our capacity to absorb them into the ranks of good citizenship. America must be kept American. For this purpose, it is necessary to continue a policy of restricted immigration. It would lie well to make such immigration of a selective nature with some inspection at the source, and based either on a prior census or upon the record of naturalization. Either method would ensure the admission of those with the largest capacity and best intention of becoming citizens. I am convinced that our present economic and social conditions warrant a limitation of those to be admitted. We should find additional safety in a law requiring the immediate registration of all aliens. Those who do not want to be partakers of the American spirit ought not to settle in America.” ~ Calvin Coolidge, 30th POTUS (First Message to Congress, December 1923)
Anyone who comes here must be required to learn English and assimilate. No driver’s license or benefits for those who refuse to learn and speak English. If they can’t pass the test in English, then they certainly should NOT be driving because they can’t read the road signs. There should be no little enclaves of foreigners setting up their communities with their own laws and “police” or security forces. This is NOT acceptable on any level.
Europe is overwhelmed by invaders not refugees, they did not come to coexist and live but to take over, what was Merkel thinking God only knows. This problem was dealt with before, would take a miracle to happen again, I don’t think these “refugees” are going anywhere.
Looks like the dems in Denmark admitted to the errors of their ways. Judging from the radical and violent behavior of the liberals in the USA, the demoncrats here will NEVER learn their lesson.
That’s a prime example of what happens to the integrity of a nation when typical “sob-sisters” are elected to high office.
Well of course they are? Anyone who has paid even a little attention, has seen what’s its done to their countries. America better wake up (talking to you democrat supporters) fast and see exactly what the democrat open borders will bring……to your town or one close by
ALL OF EUROPE HAS SOURED ON IMMIGRATION . Particularly from Islamic countries . Several massive protests are occuring in every country of Europe . Official government media such as BBC and RTE are refusing to cover these huge massive freequent protests. And the protests are moving from local cities to larger cities and on to capital cities . Protestors are demanding a halt to immigration , especially from Islamic countries . In Ireland , the government is constructing “IPAS” housing for the immigrants at the exact same time that there is declining housing for Irish citizens . In Italy , Georgia Maloni has made a seperate tariff deal with the US over the objections of the European Union . The continued existance of the EU is in some jeopardy . This is a huge massive story that is being blocked my MSM in Europe and by the MSM here in the US.
Coverage of these masive protests can be seen on your cell phones . Search for European Protests . There is TONS of coverage available . When you see these protests , you’ll readily become aware that news of these protests are being censored from you . When you find one of the protests , click on the ‘ Like ‘ button and then more such protests will be findable by your cell phone .
For European countries closing the door now is like quitting smoking after contracting lung cancer. For us not quite so bad, but as far as i know legal invaders are still pouring in. Where i live burkas are everywhere and our treason party fights every attempt to curtail this policy.
Denmark was offered the German provinces of Schleswig and Holstein after WWII. They said, we are only 6 million people. We do not want 2 million Germans in our country, so they declined. Wise choice. The asylum seekers are much more foreign to Danes than the Germans.
Shockingly, there may be a few Democrats that are finally waking up and finding there way out of the utopia fantasy land of rainbows, perversion, and purple unicorns of insanity and entering the world of REALITY. However, as long as Western Europe allows the Left-wing Socialists to rule their lives and country, they will continue to live in a dying, frightening and rapidly decaying society until they wise up or crumble into oblivion.