UN experts condemn 'hate speech' by leading US politicians - UN slams US over migrant abuses and racist rhetoric under Trump
The UN has strongly criticised the United States over its treatment of migrants and the rise of racist hate speech. A new report from the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) highlights concerns about excessive force, racial profiling, and deadly incidents involving immigration authorities. Senior politicians, including President Donald Trump, were directly named in the warnings.
Since Trump took office, over 675,000 deportations have been carried out. Meanwhile, migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers are increasingly depicted as criminals or economic burdens by high-ranking officials. CERD warned that such rhetoric fuels discrimination and hate crimes.
The committee also condemned the excessive use of force by U.S. immigration agencies. In January alone, ICE and Border Patrol agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis. At least eight more deaths have occurred during ICE operations or in custody since the start of the year. CERD accused ICE of systematic racial profiling in enforcement actions. While exact figures remain unclear, advocacy groups like the ACLU report over 50 deaths linked to ICE since 2017, including at least 21 in custody during Trump's first term. The total for his second term remains incomplete, but fatalities continue to rise.
The UN's findings point to ongoing risks for migrants and marginalised communities in the U.S. With deaths in custody, fatal shootings, and racial profiling documented, the report calls for urgent reforms. The committee's warnings also stress the dangers of hate speech from political leaders, linking it to broader patterns of violence and discrimination.
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