The State Department has told overseas missions to report on migrant-linked crime and evaluate the responses of their host governments
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has instructed American diplomats across Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to lobby their host governments against mass migration by raising concerns over its links to violent crime, the New York Times reports, citing a diplomatic cable.
The debate over immigration in the US grew sharper on Wednesday after an Afghan asylum seeker allegedly shot two National Guard members in Washington DC. In response, all immigration requests related to Afghan nationals have been halted indefinitely.
US envoys have been told to submit reports on crimes linked to migrants in the countries where they are assigned and assess how host governments handle the issue, including “policies that unduly favor migrants at the expense of local populations,” according to the document dated November 21.
US President Donald Trump has frequently portrayed mass migration as a major problem facing both the US and Europe. Since returning to the Oval Office in January, Trump has reinstated strict immigration control, including mass deportations and expanded detention of illegal aliens.
The policy has faced criticism from Democrats and sparked protests across the country. Trump accused his predecessor, Joe Biden, of pursuing open-border policies that allowed violent criminals to enter the country and hide from law enforcement.
Across Europe, a decade-long migration crisis has prompted governments to reassess their policies as pressure mounts on housing, welfare systems, and local services. While several countries initially welcomed asylum seekers, many have since reintroduced border controls and adopted tougher rules amid growing public unease over integration, security, and a series of high-profile crimes. In one of the latest examples, a ten-year-old girl was allegedly raped by an asylum seeker in Ireland, triggering riots last month.
In July, Trump claimed that immigration is “killing” Europe and urged leaders to act before they “lose control.” Several EU member states have in recent months tightened asylum procedures, expanded detention powers, and accelerated deportations for applicants deemed ineligible, reflecting a broader effort to rebalance migration policies across the bloc.
