Trump Administration Attempts to Globalize Its Anti-Immigrant Agenda

Washington, D.C. — In the wake of public statements and media reports indicating that the Trump administration plans to subvert international agreements that protect people fleeing  persecution, Human Rights First’s Uzra Zeya said the following:

“The Trump Administration plan signals an alarming and dangerous effort to tear down long-standing legal norms that protect the human rights of people everywhere. This is not an effort to work toward constructive improvements but part of a concerted effort to torpedo international law. The right to seek asylum has saved millions of lives. Ignoring the root causes of record forced displacement worldwide—armed conflict, repression, human rights violations, natural disasters, and climate disruption—while targeting the most vulnerable victims characterizes this Administration’s scorched earth approach to migration. 

The Trump administration appears to be exporting its domestic anti-immigrant agenda by trying to pressure other nations into joining a global campaign to tear down refugee protections. The end result will subvert human rights, block access to safety for those who are not white or wealthy, and exacerbate challenges faced by frontline countries hosting refugees.

The reality is clear: nearly 70 percent of refugees already find safety in neighboring countries, and 73 percent are hosted by low- and middle-income nations. Other governments will see this scheme for what it is—an assault on human rights that puts lives at risk, shatters international norms, and undermines the values the United States should stand for.” 

To speak with Zeya, please contact press@humanrightsfirst.org.