Original article (in Montenegrin) was published on 25/4/2025; Author: Nina Đuranović
A screenshot of a post from the American embassy in Kyiv is being circulated on social media, showing a statement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. In the post, he says that visiting the United States is not an inherent right but a privilege granted to those who “respect our laws and values.”
Some Facebook users have interpreted Rubio’s statement as a message aimed specifically at the Ukrainian people. (1, 2) (archived: 1, 2)
“The American embassy in Ukraine informs Ukrainian refugees in America. In short – get lost.
US embassy reminds Ukrainians: Visiting America is not an entitlement. It is a privilege. “the comments read.
RT Balkan (archived) interpreted the same statement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a “reminder to Ukrainians” that staying in the United States is not a right but a privilege.
However, in addition to the Kyiv embassy, the same message was also posted on the official social media accounts of the US embassies in Sarajevo, Vienna, and elsewhere (archived here and here).
Therefore, the statement is not directed exclusively at Ukrainians, as RT Balkan and some Facebook users claimed. Rather, it reflects a general position of US immigration policy toward all foreign nationals.
The principle that entering, staying in, or receiving a visa for the United States is a privilege—and not an entitlement—applies to all foreign nationals, regardless of country of origin. The US retains discretionary authority to approve, extend, or revoke visas or residence permits for all applicants, which is a standard practice within the American immigration system.
The message that “staying in the U.S. is a privilege, not an entitlement” is not aimed solely at Ukrainian citizens, as the same legal standards apply to all foreign nationals seeking to reside in the US.
During its second term, the Trump administration implemented the most restrictive (archived) package of immigration measures (archived) in recent US history, significantly tightening the rules for entry, residence, and immigrant rights.
As part of the Russian media ecosystem, RT Balkan presented Secretary Rubio’s message in a way that aligns with its editorial policy and narrative, emphasizing the notion of US distancing from Ukraine.
Because the statement by the US Secretary of State regarding residence in the United States is not addressed exclusively to Ukrainians, as claimed in the posts, but applies to all foreign nationals, we rate these claims as manipulation of facts.
The “Manipulation of Facts” rating is given to a media report that uses known and accurate facts but interprets them in a deceptive manner. These reports generally employ accurate information to draw incorrect conclusions or claims, leading media consumers to draw conclusions that differ from the actual meaning of the presented facts.
