U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has sent a statement to the UN saying that his country will no longer participate in the Global Compact on Migration, Voice of America has reported.

The statement also claims that this program could undermine the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws.

"While we will continue to engage on a number of fronts at the United Nations, in this case, we simply cannot in good faith support a process that could undermine the sovereign right of the United States to enforce our immigration laws and secure our borders," the statement reads.

According to Tillerson, the U.S. supports international cooperation on migration issues, but sovereign states bear the main responsibility for ensuring that migration is safe, orderly and legal.

The media recalls that the New York Declaration was unanimously approved by 193 members of the UN General Assembly in 2016 and is intended to protect the rights of refugees, help them resettle and provide access to education and work.