The 2014-2016 refugee and migrant crisis led to a hardening of stances and consolidation of resistance to migration in the Visegrad Group (V4) countries. Portraying migration as an existential threat to states’ and societies’ security, they clearly articulated a consistent position: no migrants from the Middle East and Africa on their territory. At the same time, the V4 countries did not oppose the need for crisis resolution. They supported tackling the root causes of migration, primarily by helping on the spot and increasing Official Development Assistance (ODA) transfers. This paper examines the implementation of the “root cause” strategy by V4 donors in the leading countries of origin of asylum seekers from 2014 to 2016 and selected transit countries. Applying the securitisation framework allows us to track how narratives concerning migration have translated into providing ODA (its volume, structure and delivery channels) and using aid as an instrument of donors’ security policy. The research shows that the V4 response to the crisis was selective and limited; despite numerous declarations, the strategy was only partially implemented in practice. Donors were more devoted to externalising migration control and enhancing cooperation with non-EU states than supporting the socio-economic development of countries generating migration pressure.