Dozens of Brazilians demonstrate against the presence of Venezuelan immigrants in Pacaraima, Brazil, Aug. 18, 2018. EPA-EFE/Geraldo Maia

Dozens of Brazilians demonstrate against the presence of Venezuelan immigrants in Pacaraima, Brazil, Aug. 18, 2018. EPA-EFE/Geraldo Maia

Police try to maintain control as dozens of Brazilians demonstrate against the presence of Venezuelan immigrants in Pacaraima, Brazil, Aug. 18, 2018. EPA-EFE/Geraldo Maia

Dozens of Brazilians demonstrated Saturday in the town of Pacaraima, on the border with Venezuela, against the presence of Venezuelan immigrants, burning some of their tents and other personal belongings, official sources said.

The protesters gathered Saturday morning and headed toward areas where Venezuelan immigrants are staying, sources from the Pacaraima mayor's office, in the impoverished state of Roraima, told EFE.

According to those sources, the protests ignited after a local shopkeeper was beaten and robbed at his home, allegedly by a group of Venezuelans.

After the robbery, dozens of Pacaraima residents gathered in the wee hours of Saturday, set fire to some of the tents Venezuelans have set up in the town's streets, and burned many of their personal belongings.

"They are attempting to force the Venezuelans out. They want them to leave," the sources from the mayor's office said, who denounced the lack of support from the federal government to assist the Venezuelan immigrants.

The police were forced to intervene, and, according to police sources, the protests "are now under control" and "no Brazilians or Venezuelans were wounded."

Brazilian authorities estimate that nearly 400 Venezuelan immigrants have crossed into Brazil every day to escape the social, political and economic crisis that has hit their home country.

Other Latin American nations such as Colombia, Peru and Ecuador have also been affected by a rise in immigration from Venezuela.

Some 50,000 Venezuelans are thought to have established themselves in Roraima, and half of them would be living in Boa Vista, the regional capital, where most reception centers for Venezuelan immigrants have been set up.

On Feb. 15, Brazilian President Michel Temer signed an executive order acknowledging Roraima's "vulnerable situation" and establishing a series of measures to provide humanitarian assistance to Venezuelan immigrants.