A United Nations-backed panel of independent experts on racial discrimination has criticized racist rhetoric from President Trump and other American political leaders, as well as strict immigration enforcement in the United States, for contributing to what it calls “serious human rights violations.”
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, based in Geneva, released its findings Wednesday. The panel recommended that the US halt immigration enforcement activities at or near schools, hospitals, and religious institutions. While the committee’s recommendations under its early warning procedure are not legally binding, they are intended to encourage the United States to adhere to its international obligations.
The committee expressed alarm over the use of derogatory language toward migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Members said this type of rhetoric, which they described as “racist hate speech,” is linked to an increase in racial discrimination, though they did not provide specific statistics. Officials also highlighted the risks posed when public figures, including politicians, exploit stereotypes to provoke hostility or incite discrimination. “Depicting these groups as criminals or burdens, by leaders at the highest levels, particularly the President,” the committee stated, “can encourage racial discrimination and hate crimes.”
Immigration enforcement has been a key focus of the Trump administration, with mass deportations becoming a central priority during his second term.
While Presidents Trump, Joe Biden, and Barack Obama have all faced UN criticism regarding systemic racism and discrimination, this report specifically identifies Trump’s speech as a contributing factor. The panel also criticized US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection for practices it described as racially profiling people of color and carrying out arbitrary identity checks.
White House spokesperson Olivia Wales dismissed the UN assessment, saying, “This United Nations assessment is just as useless as their broken escalator, and their extreme bias continues to prove why no one takes them seriously.” Wales emphasized the administration’s efforts to reduce crime and secure the US border.