Trump's 'Racist Hate Speech' And Crackdown On Immigration Violate Human Rights: UN Panel

Last Updated:March 14, 2026, 19:05 IST

A U.N. panel criticized U.S. President Trump for racist hate speech and immigration crackdowns, urging policy reviews and humane treatment for migrants.

A U.N.-backed panel of independent experts on racial discrimination has highlighted “grave human rights violations" stemming from racist hate speech by U.S. President Donald Trump and other American political leaders. This, along with a crackdown on immigration in the United States, has raised significant concerns.

According to a report by AP, the Geneva-based Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination issued its decision on Wednesday, urging the U.S. to halt immigration enforcement operations near schools, hospitals, and faith-based institutions. Although not legally binding, this decision aims to hold the U.S. accountable to its international commitments.

The committee expressed alarm over the use of derogatory and dehumanising language regarding migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. It noted a reported increase in racial discrimination linked to such rhetoric, although it did not cite specific data. The panel also warned against politicians and public figures using stereotypes to incite hate crimes and discrimination.

“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’s statement in a news release cited by AP reads.

While the U.N. has previously condemned systemic racism, hate, and discrimination during the tenures of Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, this panel specifically called out Trump’s speech. Biden and Obama were not singled out for their rhetoric.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection were criticised for racially profiling people of colour and conducting seemingly arbitrary identity checks.

“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," said White House spokesperson Olivia Wales, who noted Trump’s work reducing crime and securing the U.S. border.

“No one cares what the biased United Nations’ so-called ‘experts’ think, because Americans are living in a safer, stronger country than ever before," she added.

The report accused the U.S. of failing to meet its obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, adopted by the U.N. in 1965. It highlighted incidents involving discriminatory, dangerous, and violent methods that resulted in eight deaths in the last three months, including Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who were killed by federal agents during Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota.

The U.N. panel called on the U.S. to review its immigration policies to ensure they comply with international human rights law, including suspending immigration enforcement operations around sensitive locations, repealing discriminatory asylum measures, and safeguarding personal data in government databases.

However, it remains uncertain if the U.N. can enforce these proposals.

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