Rabat – The US Embassy and Consulates in Morocco have updated their online platform to warn Moroccans against entering the United States illegally, lying to get a visa, working without legal permission, or staying in the country after the migrant’s visa or waiver had expired.
The announcement titled “Don’t Risk Your Future: The US Cracks Down on Illegal Immigration” warned that punishments for the violations “include jail time, deportation and a permanent ban on obtaining a US visa in the future.”
Deviating from the diplomatic language expected from such platforms, the embassy leans on warnings that sound almost condescending, with statements like “some people believe they can sneak into the United States and avoid being caught” and “the US visa process is the most secure in the world. Yet, some people unwisely still try to cheat.”
The embassy proceeds to caution people against crossing into the US illegally, warning them that they may not make their destination, “criminal groups, cartels and human traffickers target illegal migrants, subjecting them to violence, extortion, and assault.”
Firm immigration crackdown under Trump
The document is regurgitating right wing talking points filled with fear mongering against immigrants, with the usual claims that the new regulations are protecting American citizens and are “preventing the suffering caused by illegal immigration.”
Firmly stating that “president Trump is holding everyone accountable”, the document also warns those who aid persons migrating into the US without proper documentation, including smugglers, human traffickers and “even foreign government officials who allow illegal immigration to continue.”
In the same vein, the embassy urged people to advise anyone staying in the US illegally to leave immediately before they are caught.
According to a Guardian review of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) data, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents (ICE) arrested more people in the first 22 days of February 2025 than in any month over the last seven years, with immigration detention centers being filled to capacity to fulfill Trump’s dream of mass deportation.
Moroccans point out US hypocrisy
A lot of Moroccans commented on the announcement, which was also shared on the US Embassy’s official Facebook page.
One commenter condemned the hypocrisy of the US’s treatment of migrants, given that, outside of indigenous people, the US is entirely made out of immigrants. “It’s unsettling to see the US government to talk about ‘deterring immigration’ while ignoring the historical context of its own existence,” read the comment.
Another commenter pointed out that while the new regulations might seem like “an innocent attempt” to deter irregular migration, it is troubling to see “how this administration has acted so far – randomly arresting people regardless of their status and disregarding court and judges decisions.”
In fact, these new protocols have also been used against permanent US residents who disagree with different policies and decisions of the Trump administration, especially in regards to criticism of Israeli war crimes and support for Palestinians in Gaza. Earlier in March, ICE arrested Mahmoud Khalil for leading peaceful protests at Columbia University last year. The protests and encampments at Columbia were part of a peaceful movement that swept streets and college campuses across the world in condemnation of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
This week a federal judge blocked ICE’s attempt to arrest and deport 21-year-old Ynseo Chung, another pro-Palestine Columbia student who has lived in the US since the age of seven.
