UN Panel Condemns Racist Rhetoric by US Leaders

Experts say hate speech has led to human rights violations

Mar. 13, 2026 at 2:54am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A U.N. panel of independent experts focusing on racial discrimination has issued a decision stating that racist hate speech by U.S. President Donald Trump and other American political leaders, along with a crackdown on immigration, have led to 'grave human rights violations.' The panel urged the U.S. to suspend immigration enforcement operations at schools, hospitals, and faith-based institutions.

Why it matters

This U.N. assessment highlights growing international concerns over the impact of inflammatory rhetoric and discriminatory policies targeting migrants, refugees, and people of color in the U.S. The panel's findings put pressure on the U.S. government to address systemic racism and uphold its human rights obligations.

The details

The Geneva-based Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination issued its decision under the committee's early warning protocol, which is not legally binding but seeks to hold countries to their international commitments. The committee said it was 'deeply disturbed' by the use of derogatory language around migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, and attributed a rise in racial discrimination to 'racist hate speech' by politicians and public figures. The panel also criticized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection for racially profiling people of color.

  • The decision was issued on March 13, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

Former U.S. President whose rhetoric the U.N. panel said has contributed to human rights violations.

Joe Biden

Current U.S. President who was in office when the U.N. condemned systemic racism, hate and discrimination in the country.

Barack Obama

Former U.S. President who was in office when the U.N. condemned systemic racism, hate and discrimination in the country.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Federal agency that the U.N. panel said has been racially profiling people of color.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Federal agency that the U.N. panel said has been racially profiling people of color.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This United Nations assessment is just as useless as their broken escalator, and their extreme bias continues to prove why no one takes them seriously.”

— Olivia Wales, White House spokesperson (atlantanewsfirst.com)

What’s next

The U.N. panel is calling on the U.S. to review whether its immigration policies abide by international human rights law, including suspending immigration enforcement operations around schools, faith-based institutions and hospitals, repealing 'discriminatory measures' related to asylum procedures, and putting up safeguards so immigration agencies cannot access personal data in government databases.

The takeaway

This U.N. report underscores the growing global concern over the impact of racist rhetoric and discriminatory policies in the U.S., putting pressure on the government to address systemic racism and uphold its human rights obligations. The findings highlight the need for the U.S. to reform its immigration enforcement practices and curb the use of inflammatory language that can incite hate and discrimination.