The State Department has directed its overseas missions to document migrant-related crimes and assess the responses of their host governments
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has instructed American diplomats in Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to lobby their host governments against mass migration, highlighting concerns about its connections to violent crime, the New York Times reports, citing a diplomatic cable.
The debate surrounding immigration in the U.S. intensified on Wednesday after an Afghan asylum seeker allegedly shot two National Guard members in Washington D.C. In response, all immigration requests for Afghan nationals have been indefinitely suspended.
According to a document dated November 21, U.S. envoys are required to submit reports on crimes linked to migrants in their assigned countries and evaluate how host governments are handling the issue, including “policies that unduly favor migrants at the expense of local populations.”
U.S. President Donald Trump has frequently characterized mass migration as a significant challenge for both the U.S. and Europe. Since his return to the Oval Office in January, Trump has reinstated stringent immigration controls, including extensive deportations and increased detention of undocumented individuals.
This policy has drawn criticism from Democrats and prompted protests nationwide. Trump accused his predecessor, Joe Biden, of pursuing open-border policies that allegedly permitted violent criminals to enter the country and evade law enforcement.
Across Europe, a decade-long migration crisis has compelled governments to re-evaluate their policies as housing, welfare systems, and local services face mounting pressure. While several countries initially welcomed asylum seekers, many have since reintroduced border controls and adopted stricter regulations amid rising public unease over integration, security, and a series of high-profile crimes. In one recent incident, a ten-year-old girl was allegedly raped by an asylum seeker in Ireland, leading to riots last month.
In July, Trump claimed that immigration is “destroying” Europe and urged leaders to act before they “lose control.” In recent months, several EU member states have tightened asylum procedures, expanded detention powers, and accelerated deportations for applicants deemed ineligible, reflecting a broader effort to rebalance migration policies across the bloc.