UN Rights Chief, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, on Wednesday, warned that mass expulsions of migrants from the U.S. would violate international law unless each deportee got fair process.
Al-Hussein said this in Geneva as he delivered a broad rebuke of the new U.S. leadership.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security had taken steps to deport immigrants living illegally in the country under an executive order that President Donald Trump signed in January.
al-Hussein, however, said “expedited deportations could amount to collective expulsions.
“I am especially disturbed by the potential impact of these changes on children, who face being detained, or may see their families torn apart.
“Vilification of entire groups such as Mexicans and Muslims, and false claims that migrants commit more crimes than U.S. citizens, are harmful and fuel xenophobic abuses.”
He called for “greater and more consistent leadership” to rein in the surging discrimination and attacks against various groups, including Jews.
al-Hussein also said he was dismayed by Trump’s attempts to undermine judges and journalists
The Jordanian UN high commissioner for human rights also criticised the Trump administration’s revised temporary entry ban for citizens of six Muslim-majority countries, as well as its general attitude toward foreigners. (dpa/NAN)
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