The U.S. Department of State has officially rejected the declaration made by the United Nations' International Migration Review Forum and chose not to participate in the event, which took place from May 5 to May 8 at the UN headquarters in New York City.
A statement released on Monday, first reported by The Daily Signal, accuses the UN of attempting to "promote and facilitate replacement immigration in the United States and throughout the West in general."
The forum's declaration, adopted on May 8, asserts that "all migrants, regardless of their immigration status, are entitled to human rights" and that nations should protect these rights "without any discrimination."
Washington dismisses this framework entirely.
A State Department spokesperson quoted Secretary Marco Rubio to justify their stance: "Opening our doors to mass migration was a grave mistake that threatens the cohesion of our societies and the future of our people."
The statement directly blames UN agencies and their partners for having "facilitated the invasion" of the country and for reallocating American taxpayers' resources—such as hotels, plane tickets, mobile phones, and debit cards—to migrants.
"None of this was 'safe,' 'orderly,' or 'regular,'" the spokesperson noted. "And the costs fell primarily on American workers, forced to compete for jobs, housing, and limited social services. The UN has little to say about this."
The State Department also clarified that the U.S. aims not to manage mass migration, but to reverse it: the Trump administration actively promotes "remigration," a term used to describe policies of mass deportation and repatriation.
"The United States will not support a process that openly or covertly imposes guidelines, norms, or commitments that restrict the sovereign and democratic right of the American people to make decisions in the best interest of our country," concluded the spokesperson.
This stance aligns with the Trump administration's track record on immigration policy.
In December 2017, during his first term, the U.S. withdrew from the negotiation process of the Global Compact for Migration, the very framework the forum seeks to review and strengthen.
In September 2025, Trump accused the UN before the General Assembly of having allocated $372 million in 2024 to assist 624,000 migrants heading to the U.S.
In 2025, nearly three million immigrants left the country: 2.2 million through self-deportation and 675,000 through direct expulsion by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Deportations chief Tom Homan announced last week that the administration's goal is to reach one million deportations annually by the fiscal year 2026.
Understanding the U.S. Stance on UN Migration Policies
Why did the U.S. reject the UN Migration Review Forum's declaration?
The U.S. rejected the declaration because it believes the UN is promoting replacement immigration, which it views as a threat to societal cohesion and national interests.
What is the U.S. policy on mass migration?
The U.S. policy under the Trump administration focuses on reversing mass migration by promoting deportation and repatriation, rather than managing it.
How has the U.S. previously interacted with international migration policies?
The U.S. withdrew from the Global Compact for Migration in 2017, aligning with its current stance against international frameworks that it believes undermine national sovereignty.