The decision to replace her was agreed by premier Matteo Renzi and Interior Minister Angelino Alfano on Monday, and must now be approved by the council of ministers, Rai News reported.

Her ousting comes after residents in Quinto di Treviso violently protested the arrival of 101 migrants last Thursday, burning mattresses intended for them on the street and stopping food supplies.

Marrosu was initially adamant that the migrants would stay, saying “they have no choice”, before later transferring them to an empty police station located between Treviso and the town of Casier.

Over the weekend she praised the migrants for not reacting to the protests, which she said had reached “inconceivable levels”.

As Italy struggles under the weight of the migrant influx, and as reception centres become full beyond capacity, the government has called on leaders across the country to find much-needed housing, a request that has sparked revolt, especially in the north.

Luca Zaia, the far-right president of the Veneto region who is opposed to his region housing more migrants, showed his support for the protesters, describing the mayhem as “the Africanization of Veneto”.

The leader of the anti-immigration Northern League, Matteo Salvini, took to Twitter following the news that Marrosu would be replaced, saying: 

“Renzi and Alfano are going to remove the prefect of Treviso: good, the citizens have won! Now we need to remove Renzi and Alfano…”