UN panel says racist hate speech by US leaders has led to human rights violations

"Portraying them as criminals or as a burden, by politicians and influential public figures at the highest level, particularly the President, may incite racial discrimination and hate crimes. The committee said it also was deeply disturbed by the use of derogatory and dehumanizing language around migrants, refugees and asylum seekers."

"A U.N.-backed panel of independent experts focusing on racial discrimination says racist hate speech by U.S. President Donald Trump and other American political leaders, along with a crackdown on immigration in the United States, have led to grave human rights violations. The Geneva-based Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination issued its decision March 11 and urged the U.S. to suspend immigration enforcement operations at, and near, schools, hospitals, and faith-based institutions."

"U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with U.S. Customs and Border Protection also were singled out for racially profiling people of color and conducting identity checks that often seemed arbitrary. The decision, made under the committee's early warning protocol, is not legally binding but seeks to hold a country - in this case, the U.S. - to its own international commitments."

The Geneva-based Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination issued a decision stating that racist hate speech by U.S. President Donald Trump and other American political leaders, combined with immigration enforcement crackdowns, have resulted in grave human rights violations. The committee expressed deep concern about derogatory language targeting migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, attributing rising racial discrimination to this rhetoric. The panel warned that portraying these groups as criminals or burdens may incite hate crimes and discrimination. The committee urged the U.S. to suspend immigration enforcement operations at schools, hospitals, and faith-based institutions. Additionally, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection were criticized for racially profiling people of color and conducting arbitrary identity checks. While the decision is not legally binding, it seeks to hold the U.S. accountable to its international commitments.

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