US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has made inaccurate statements suggesting that European countries are experiencing an “invasion” of migrants, following Vice-President JD Vance’s remarks connecting the murder of Henry Nowak to a “mass invasion of migrants.”
Hegseth delivered his comments at the Normandy American Cemetery in north-west France during the commemoration of the 82nd anniversary of D-Day, where Allied forces landed on beaches to liberate Nazi-occupied France on June 6, 1944.
He remarked, “Sadly, today, different European beaches are facing infiltration by various perilous ideologies. Beaches in Spain, Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria witness the arrival of boats and individuals. When will European capitals address this influx?”
Despite Hegseth’s claims, official data indicates a significant decrease in irregular migration since the peak of the 2015 refugee crisis. For instance, Greece has seen a 95% decrease in arrivals by small boat, dropping from 856,723 in 2015 to 41,696 in 2025. Similarly, Italy’s arrivals decreased by 56.9%, from 153,842 in 2015 to 66,316 in 2025.
In the UK, net migration has reached its lowest level since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 82% below the record high in 2023. The estimated figure for the year ending December 2025 is 171,000, a 48.3% decrease from the previous year.
Recent data shows a decline in net migration, with around 36,000 individuals arriving by small boat in the year ending May 31, 2026, a 13% decrease compared to the prior year, according to the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford.
Vance’s statements followed Vice-President JD Vance’s comments attributing “righteous anger” to Henry Nowak’s murder, partly blaming it on the “mass invasion of migrants.” The remarks prompted a response from Downing Street, criticizing those attempting to sow division and interfere in democratic processes following Nowak’s tragic case.
The 18-year-old victim was handcuffed by police while dying after Vickrum Digwa, the perpetrator, alleged a racist attack against him. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed Digwa’s British nationality.
A spokesperson from No10 emphasized the importance of respecting the wishes of the grieving Nowak family and promoting unity in the face of tragic events. The spokesperson highlighted the need for politics to unite people, even during challenging circumstances.
The US State Department connected “two-tier policing” to Nowak’s death, echoing similar sentiments expressed by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage during a recent session of PMQs. The department condemned ideological conditioning and two-tier policing as signs of societal decline, extending condolences to Nowak’s family and the UK during this difficult period.
Downing Street dismissed any notions of two-tier policing across the UK, emphasizing a commitment to equality in law enforcement.
