The U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, recently made remarks at the Normandy D-Day commemoration event, claiming that Europe is currently facing a new kind of "invasion"—an influx of migrants. He urged EU leaders to confront this issue urgently before it's too late to act.

Hegseth's original words were: "Right now, beaches in Spain, Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria are being repeatedly overwhelmed by waves of people and boats, bringing with them distinct and dangerous ideologies. When will European governments finally take action? Or has it already become too late? I pray it isn’t, and I hope it won’t be."

Sarcasm aside, the D-Day landings of the past were intended to liberate Europe from Nazi occupation, while today Hegseth’s so-called "invasion" refers to migration flows. His viewpoint aligns closely with that of the Trump administration: immigrants bring cultural change, security threats, and even the erosion of national identity. A former U.S. National Security report under Trump even warned that Europe is undergoing a process of "civilizational erasure."

Trump himself has pursued tough immigration policies in the United States, including mass deportations and high-profile arrests of undocumented immigrants, sparking widespread controversy.

Interestingly, just as Hegseth was making these statements, the EU was preparing to implement its largest immigration reform in recent years. On June 1st, the EU reached new rules primarily aimed at accelerating the deportation of those whose asylum applications have been denied. Currently, only about 20% to 30% of individuals ordered to leave the EU actually do so. The new rules are designed to support previously introduced measures under the Migration and Asylum Pact, aiming to reform refugee handling procedures, border screening, and burden-sharing among member states.

However, the European Commission also acknowledges that Europe faces a labor shortage, missing nearly 1 million workers annually—making immigration essential. Latest data shows that in 2025, the number of immigrants in the EU reached a record high of 64.2 million, with 46.7 million coming from outside the EU. The Greek Minister of Migration has also warned that over half a million people are already waiting in Libya alone, eager to illegally cross into Europe—suggesting a new migrant crisis could erupt at any moment.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1867376680511624/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author