Hillary’s Munich Bombshell: Why the Left Must ‘Get Tough’ on Migration to Save Democracy
A Shift to the Center: Clinton Frames Unchecked Migration as a Threat to Western Stability
Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered a pointed critique of unchecked migration policies during a panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, urging European leaders to address what she described as excessive and destabilizing inflows of migrants in a "humane" manner with secure borders.
Speaking at the annual gathering of global security experts, politicians, and diplomats – attended this year by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and California Governor Gavin Newsom, among others – Clinton emphasized the need for honest dialogue on migration. "I think we need to call it for what it is," she said.
"There's a legitimate reason to have a debate about things like migration. It went too far. It's been disruptive and destabilizing, and it needs to be fixed in a humane way with secure borders that don't torture and kill people."
Her remarks went viral on social media, drawing immediate attention amid ongoing debates over immigration in both Europe and the United States. The conference, themed around transatlantic relations and global threats, has seen heightened focus on migration's role in fueling populist movements, a topic Clinton has addressed before.
In 2018, during a speech in London, Clinton similarly advised European nations to "get a handle" on immigration to counter the rise of right-wing populists, a comment that sparked backlash from progressive circles at the time.
She clarified those remarks days later, advocating for comprehensive reform rather than "open borders."
Saturday's comments appear to build on that stance, framing migration as a security issue intertwined with economic and social stability.