The United States Department of State has accused the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) of attempting to obstruct the enforcement of American immigration laws, following communications in which UN experts urged other countries to reconsider their cooperation with Washington on deportations.
In a series of posts on X, the State Department defended the Trump administration’s immigration policies, arguing that international bodies should not interfere with the country’s efforts to remove undocumented immigrants and protect national security.
The department said that it worked with dozens of countries to facilitate the removal of undocumented immigrants from the United States, describing such cooperation as essential to enforcing immigration laws and safeguarding American citizens.
However, it alleged that the UN Human Rights Council was seeking to undermine these efforts by sending letters to other countries criticising what it described as the United States’ “enforcement-driven model” of migration policy and urging them to stop cooperating with Washington.
The State Department characterised the communications as an attempt to interfere with the implementation of American immigration laws, arguing that immigration enforcement was a fundamental responsibility of the government. “Without enforcement there is no law, which is exactly what the UN wants – open borders,” the department said in its posts, accusing the international body of promoting an approach that would undermine national immigration controls.
The department also criticised the involvement of a UN special rapporteur on adequate housing, whose mandate includes examining the right to adequate housing as part of an adequate standard of living and addressing discrimination in that context. The rapporteur was among the signatories to the letters cited by Washington. One post said, “Among the signatories to these letters is the UN “Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context.””
Rejecting the intervention, the State Department maintained that international experts and institutions should not have authority over the enforcement of American law. “To the UN and its eminent persons: globalist bureaucrats will never be given a veto over the enforcement of U.S. law,” the department stated.
The comments reflect the Trump administration’s broader position that immigration enforcement should remain a matter of national sovereignty, with the government retaining authority over decisions concerning border security, deportations and cooperation with foreign governments.
The State Department also reiterated its criticism of the UN Human Rights Council, citing the United States’ withdrawal from the body as evidence of its opposition to what it considers inappropriate international interference in domestic affairs.
The department said the decision to withdraw was intended to distance Washington from an institution it considers inconsistent with American interests and its approach to human rights and national sovereignty.
The statements underscore the administration’s continued emphasis on immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with the department reaffirming its commitment to prioritising American interests in its foreign policy.
US Defends Withdrawal From UN Human Rights Council
The State Department also used its statements to defend the United States’ withdrawal from the UN Human Rights Council, arguing that the decision reflected Washington’s objections to the institution’s approach and activities.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in February 2025 that formally ended U.S. participation in and funding for the UNHRC, declaring that the U.S. would not seek future election to the body.
The administration cited persistent bias against Israel, antisemitism, and the inclusion of repressive regimes as reasons for leaving the Geneva-based organization. “UNHRC has protected human rights abusers by allowing them to use the organization to shield themselves from scrutiny,” the presidential action read.
The department described the council in strongly critical terms, calling it an “absurdist parody of an international bureaucracy” and asserting that the United States had withdrawn to distance itself from the organisation.
It maintained that the department’s primary responsibility was to serve the American public rather than comply with the recommendations of international experts based in Geneva. “The State Department serves the American people – not so-called ‘experts’ pontificating in Geneva,” it said.
The department further pledged that the administration would continue prioritising domestic interests in its approach to immigration and international cooperation. “Under President Trump and Secretary Rubio, the State Department will always put the American people first,” it added.
The statements come amid wider disagreements over the balance between national immigration policies and international human rights obligations. While the Trump administration has defended its enforcement-focused approach, the UN experts’ reported intervention highlights continuing international scrutiny of US migration practices.
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