Senior US officials have issued a stark condemnation of the United Kingdom's approach to immigration, accusing successive governments of having "let down" the British people by failing to resolve the ongoing crisis.
Confidential Diplomatic Directive
The criticism was delivered in a confidential memo sent to US embassies last week, including the mission in London. The cable, which was also distributed to posts across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, explicitly highlighted the UK as a prime example of a nation failing to take effective action.
American diplomats in Britain were instructed to begin collecting information and reviewing crimes committed by migrants, signalling a significant shift in diplomatic focus.
A Pattern of Failure and Security Concerns
The memo, seen by The Times, stated: "The British government in particular, time and time again we've seen governments — whether it be Conservative governments, Labour governments — say that they're going to take action to solve the mass migration crisis. And time and time again, despite the people continuously voting for a resolution or at least some sort of relief from the pressures of mass migration, nothing has really happened."
The official behind the memo expressed deep concern about crime rates in Europe, directly linking them to migration. The cable pointed to "concerning increases" in sexual assaults and violent attacks, particularly against women and young girls, and specifically mentioned "violent rape gangs and organised rape gangs in the United Kingdom." It also cited instances of human trafficking and antisemitic and anti-Christian attacks, which it largely attributed to people from "radical Islamic backgrounds."
Continuation of Trump's Warnings
This diplomatic rebuke appears to be a continuation of the Trump administration's pointed interest in Britain's border control. The memo follows Donald Trump's state visit in September 2025, during which he advised Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to use the military to end the small boats crisis.
At the time, Mr Trump warned that illegal migration can "destroy" countries from within and claimed he told the Prime Minister, "I would stop it, and it doesn't matter if you call out the military." In response, Sir Keir Starmer said his government takes the issue of illegal migration "incredibly seriously."
When approached for comment, a US State Department spokesperson told The Times that the United States is "deeply concerned about rising violent crime and human rights abuses linked to migrants" which threaten public safety worldwide. The spokesperson emphasised that mass migration is a human rights issue that can lead to a breakdown of law and order.
