UN committee warns Trump’s rhetoric and immigration policies fuelling rights abuses

GENEVA: The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) issued a warning on Wednesday regarding the impact of racist hate speech by US President Donald Trump and other political leaders, stating that such rhetoric, combined with intensified immigration crackdowns, is contributing to serious human rights violations.

In an urgent report, the UN watchdog highlighted a rise in “racist hate speech” directed at migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in the United States. The committee specifically noted the use of “derogatory and dehumanising language” and the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes targeting these groups. According to the CERD, these individuals have been depicted “as criminals or as a burden, by politicians and influential public figures at the highest level of the state party, particularly its president.”

The report cautioned that such language “fosters intolerance and may incite racial discrimination (and) hate crimes.” The committee expressed particular concern over the “systematic use of racial profiling” by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other officers involved in the country’s immigration enforcement operations.

The CERD’s findings underscore the potential consequences of political rhetoric and policy measures that stigmatize and target vulnerable populations. The committee called attention to the risks posed by portraying migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in a negative light, warning that this can contribute to an environment of intolerance and lead to increased incidents of discrimination and hate crimes.

The UN body’s statement comes amid ongoing debates in the United States over immigration policy and the treatment of non-citizens. The committee’s report urges authorities and public figures to refrain from language and actions that could further marginalize or endanger these groups.