Watchdog criticizes “racist hate speech” and mass deportations in the United States A United Nations watchdog has accused Donald Trump and other U.S. political leaders of using “racist hate speech” against migrants and overseeing policies that have led to serious human rights violations. In a decision issued this week, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) called on the United States to meet its obligations under international agreements to combat racism and discrimination. The committee said it was deeply concerned by the use of dehumanising language and harmful stereotypes directed at migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. “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 panel said. The statement marked a rare instance in which the UN body appeared to directly criticize remarks made by a sitting U.S. president. Concerns about migration crackdownThe panel also documented concerns about a wide range of measures introduced during Trump’s current administration to control migration. These include allegations of systematic racial profiling by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and border patrol agencies. The committee also cited reports describing “discriminatory, dangerous and violent methods” used in immigration enforcement operations. According to the report, at least eight people have died since January 2026 in incidents linked to immigration enforcement. Minneapolis cases highlightedParticular attention was given to events in Minneapolis, where federal immigration agents carried out large-scale operations earlier this year. The panel said it had identified a pattern of serious human rights violations during the crackdown. It referenced the deaths of two individuals — Alex Pretti and Renee Good — who were killed in separate shootings involving federal agents. The committee said the incidents could amount to gross violations of international human rights law, and may constitute extrajudicial killings of peaceful protesters. Surge in detention and deportationsCERD also expressed concern about the rapid rise in the number of migrants being held in detention facilities. According to the report, the number of people detained increased from about 40,000 in late 2024 to roughly 73,000 at the beginning of 2026. At least 675,000 migrants have been deported since Trump returned to power in January 2025. The committee also noted that the administration had moved to remove legal protections from hundreds of thousands of migrants who had previously been allowed to live in the United States. Reports of detainees being held in inhumane conditions and receiving inadequate medical care were also cited as major concerns. At least 29 migrants died in detention facilities in 2025, with six additional deaths reported in January 2026, according to the report. Complaint brought by civil liberties groupThe UN committee issued its decision after the American Civil Liberties Union asked it to review possible rights violations connected to immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota. CERD’s decisions are non-binding, meaning they do not impose legal penalties but are intended to highlight potential violations of international standards. Previous U.S. administrations, including those led by Barack Obama and Joe Biden, have also faced criticism from the panel over immigration policies. However, the committee did not previously single out presidential rhetoric in the same way. White House rejects criticismThe Trump administration dismissed the report and criticized the United Nations. White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said the assessment was biased and out of touch with conditions in the United States. “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,” she said in a statement. She added that the administration’s border policies had made the country “safer and stronger than ever before.” Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now · Source · 13.03 2026
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