Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed US diplomats based in Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to encourage host governments to tighten immigration regulations and to file reports if the respective host governments seem overly supportive of immigration, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.
The instructions came in a diplomatic cable sent to US embassies and consulates on Friday.
Diplomats were told to "regularly engage host governments and their respective authorities to raise US concerns about violent crimes associated with people of a migration background" and "any related human rights abuses."
The diplomats were also instructed to send reports detailing and analyzing the host governments' policies on immigration-related crime, including "policies that unduly favor migrants at the expense of local populations," intending to gather "host government and stakeholder support to address and reform policies related to migrant crime, defending national sovereignty, and ensuring the safety of local communities."
State Department officials claim more cables to be sent to diplomats in other regions
This cable followed one sent earlier last Thursday, in which US diplomats were told to include instances of foreign governments supporting illegal or mass migration in their annual country human rights reports, two State Department officials told NYT.
One of the officials added that cables on addressing immigration in Latin America and other regions will be sent soon.
The cable lists 12 points to help diplomats convince their host governments to restrict immigration.
"We encourage your government to ensure that policies protect your citizens from the negative social impacts of mass migration, including displacement, sexual assault, and the breakdown of law and order," one of the points read.
"We urge vigilance in safeguarding religious liberty, particularly against the prevalence of radical Islam among certain migrant populations, which has caused an increase in antisemitic and anti-Christian incidents throughout migrant-heavy areas," another read.
While the cable claims there is data supporting these claims, none is included, NYT reported.