Hungary, Poland Defend Strict Migration Curbs After 800 Arrests in France

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 19

Hungary and Poland used France’s unrest to justify hard-line migration policies, with Prime Ministers Péter Magyar and Donald Tusk vowing tighter borders, deportations and no retreat under EU pressure.
More than 800 rioters were arrested in France after looting and arson, and leaders in both countries cast the violence as proof that permissive immigration and failed integration bring security risks.
Eurostat data cited in the debate show France had nearly 10 million foreign-born residents in 2025 and Italy about 7 million, versus roughly 1 million in Poland and under 700,000 in Hungary.
Crime and public-order figures also sharpen the contrast: France recorded 304,900 police offenses in 2024, compared with 57,300 in Poland and 28,600 in Hungary, while perceived crime was also markedly higher in France.
The messaging carries domestic and EU stakes, as Tusk heads toward a 2027 parliamentary election and Magyar reinforces a migration stance that analysts say remains broadly popular in Hungary despite past EU sanctions.