WASHINGTON, D.C. January 8, 2026 – The United States has officially withdrawn from the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD), with the Department of State describing the organization as part of a “globalist pressure campaign” aimed at eroding American sovereignty and promoting an “international right to migration.”
In an announcement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on January 8, 2026, the State Department declared: “The Global Forum on Migration and Development waged a globalist pressure campaign aimed at eroding America’s sovereignty to promote an international right to migration. President Trump has halted the assault on our borders. The United States is withdrawing from the GFMD.”
The move aligns with a broader executive action by President Donald Trump, who signed a memorandum directing the U.S. to exit 66 international organizations deemed contrary to American interests. These include several UN-affiliated bodies focused on climate change, migration, and global cooperation.
The GFMD, established in 2007 following a UN High-Level Dialogue, is a voluntary, state-led forum intended to foster dialogue on migration’s links to development. It has played a role in shaping the UN’s non-binding Global Compact for Migration, which emphasizes international cooperation on migrant rights and orderly migration.
Administration officials have criticized the GFMD for advancing policies that undermine national border controls. Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott stated: “For too long, international organizations have fueled an endless flow of mass migration and have sought to compel Americans to accept the same destructive agenda. Under President Trump, the era of mass migration is over.”
Critics of the GFMD, including immigration hawks, have accused it of opposing the “criminalization of migration,” discouraging terms like “illegal migrant,” and partnering with advocacy groups that condemn large-scale deportations. The forum has also highlighted remittances from migrants as a positive economic force.
The withdrawal reflects Trump’s ongoing emphasis on border security and national sovereignty, echoing actions from his first term, such as exiting the Paris Climate Agreement. Supporters on social media praised the decision as a defense of American borders, while the broader pullout from multiple organizations has drawn attention to shifts in U.S. engagement with global institutions.
The Biden administration had previously supported the Global Compact for Migration and maintained U.S. involvement in the GFMD, marking a reversal under the current Trump administration.
This development comes amid heightened focus on immigration policy as the Trump administration implements stricter border measures.
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