Trump urges US diplomats to push European allies on immigrant-related 'violent crimes', report claims

Before Donald Trump pledged on Wednesday to suspend immigration for Afghan nationals after a deadly shooting near the White House, the U.S. State Department was reportedly already encouraging international governments to limit migration, citing concerns over violent crime. A report by The New York Times revealed a diplomatic cable issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio a week prior, instructing U.S. diplomats to press countries in Europe, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia to implement strict migration controls.

The cable, dated November 21 and obtained by the Times, directed ambassadors and embassy staff to emphasize criminal incidents, particularly violent crimes, involving migrants in their host countries, supporting the Trump administration's position. It described such crimes as widespread disruptors of social cohesion, a claim often highlighted by the administration and its far-right supporters to intensify political debate around immigration-related violence.

Diplomats were instructed to regularly engage host governments and their respective authorities to raise U.S. concerns about violent crimes associated with people of a migration background, according to the report. The existence of the cable was first publicly revealed on Wednesday, coinciding with news that an Afghan man was identified as the suspect in the shooting of two West Virginia National Guard members near the White House. The injured troops remained in critical condition as of Thursday morning.

The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is believed to have worked with U.S. forces, including the CIA, in Afghanistan before arriving in the U.S. after the Taliban took control of the country in 2021. He was hospitalized following the shooting after being shot by a Guard member.

In response, Trump issued a strong statement, declaring that Lakanwal would face the steepest possible price. He ordered federal agencies to halt immigration requests from Afghanistan, which has been under Taliban rule for four years. Lakanwal initially came to the U.S. under a Biden-era program aimed at evacuating Afghans fearing Taliban retaliation for cooperation with American forces. Department of Homeland Security records indicate that Lakanwal applied for asylum in 2024, with his request approved in early 2025, and was awaiting green card approval at the time of the attack.

Trump, in a video statement, called for a review of all Afghan refugees admitted to the U.S. since 2021, describing attacks by migrants as the single greatest national security threat to the nation. Tens of thousands of Afghans and Iraqis have resettled in the U.S. on special immigrant visas over the past four years, many escaping instability and threats of retaliation for collaborating with U.S. forces in the region.

The fall of Afghanistans democratic government in 2021 accelerated the issuance of these visas under Bidens Operation Allies Welcome, which provided protections for vulnerable Afghan citizens. Temporary protected status for other Afghan refugees was also extended at that time but later suspended by the Trump administration in early 2025.

Immigrant-perpetrated violent crimes have become a central theme in Trumps 2024 campaign. He previously cited the murder of 22-year-old Laken Riley in February 2024 to criticize Bidens immigration policies. Since taking office, Trump has repeatedly claimed that illegal border crossings dropped to zero under his administration, although DHS data shows that while illegal crossings have decreased significantly, thousands of encounters with unauthorized migrants still occur each month at ports of entry and along the U.S. border.

Author: Sophia Brooks