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Police had to step in to prevent clashes between dozens of pro- and anti-immigration protesters during a rally at the Quebec-New York border Saturday.

The far-right groups La Meute and Storm Alliance gathered on Roxham Rd. in Hemmingford to take a symbolic stand against illegal immigration. Since February — when the U.S. government began its crackdown on immigration from Muslim majority countries — hundreds have crossed into Canada illegally through Roxham Rd. Many of them are fleeing violence in Syria.

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The influx of asylum-seekers has drawn the ire of ultra-nationalist groups like Storm Alliance, whose members banded with La Meute in a show of force on Canada Day. But their demonstration was met with a counter-rally by antifascist protesters.

Officers from the Sûreté du Québec and RCMP formed a wall between the groups to prevent violence.

“The protest is over now, no one was arrested and there was no violence to speak of,” said Sgt. Aurélie Gagnon of the SQ.