Press Release
Published on September 23, 2025
New York, NY–In remarks this morning at the United Nations, President Trump demonstrated his shortsightedness and fomented division on the most important global issues while attempting to export his anti-immigrant agenda to the rest of the world.
“President Trump tried to position himself as heralding a golden era,” said Human Rights First President and CEO Uzra Zeya. “But his administration has instead ushered in a new era of increasing rights abuses at home, while his speech today was a cacophony of false information, xenophobia, and cruelty.
“President Trump’s anti-immigrant overreach undermines U.S. democracy, security and prosperity. Escalating ICE raids and detention operations have upended American communities, torn apart families, and slowed American economic growth. And today, he tried to globalize his warped agenda. Giving a shout out to rights-abusing partners like El Salvador’s Bukele and thanking him for illegally jailing and torturing people deported from the United States is a disgrace.
“Moreover, President Trump’s celebration of his unilateral attacks on alleged narco-traffickers in the Caribbean only encourages lawless behavior by other nations.
“Instead of modeling the type of responsible leadership that unifies people and affirms our common humanity, President Trump promoted nativism and false narratives designed to stoke fear and division. Rather than recognizing the real threat that Russian aggression poses to European allies, he vilified immigrants and Muslims while attempting to bully democratic governments into jettisoning their own domestic and international human rights obligations.”
Thankfully, civil society organizations stand united in support of strengthening the international, rules-based system that promotes human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the protection of refugees. Earlier this week, Human Rights First helped lead an open letter from 270 faith-based, human rights, humanitarian and refugee protection non-governmental organizations around the world, calling on the UN Member states to uphold international refugee, human rights, and humanitarian treaties. These instruments have protected millions of people from persecution, and the sad reality is that today’s global crises often stem from, or are exacerbated by, failure to adhere to them.
To speak with Zeya, please contact press@humanrightsfirst.org.
