UN watchdog voices concern that Trump’s immigration rhetoric could fuel hate crimes

A United Nations-backed panel has issued a formal warning that President Donald Trump’s rhetoric on immigration combined with intensified enforcement, is fueling human rights violations and may incite hate crimes. In a significant move, the independent experts, and urged the US to respect international law and review its human rights policies.

However, it further states the portrayal of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers “as criminals or a burden by politicians and influential public figures at the highest level of the state party- specifically its president-may incite racial discrimination and hate crimes.” Initially, the White House dismissed the report, calling it ‘useless” and “biased.”

In this connection, White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales noted Trump’s efforts to secure the US border. The Geneva-based committee specifically underscores Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda, adding that it was “gravely concerned” about arbitrary identity checks that target refugees and migrants who are perceived in a specific way.

The Trump administration has reduced enforcement efforts in Minnesota. A UN report said the two shootings amounted to “gross violations of international human rights law.”

According to the BBC, the panel also said it was “deeply concerned” by a rise in racist sentiment, including the use of derogatory and dehumanizing language that portrays migrants, asylum seekers and refugees as criminals or as burden as reported by the BBC.

Furthermore, Trump’s comments on immigration have triggered massive criticism- such as in December when he said Somali immigrants should go back where they come and the US could go the wrong way by allowing bad things into our country.