Trump Administration Seeks to Rewrite Global Refugee Rules

Trump Administration Seeks to Rewrite Global Refugee Rules
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According to a report from Human Rights Watch, the Trump administration is attempting to change global refugee rules. The administration has invited government delegations to a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly to present a “concept note” that appears to disregard the rights of refugees.

A key concern raised in the report is the note’s omission of the principle of non-refoulement, which is the very foundation of the global refugee system. This principle prevents countries from returning refugees to places where they would face persecution.

The Human Rights Watch report highlights several problematic points in the U.S. concept note. It claims that “every nation has the absolute right to control its borders,” which conflicts with the principle of non-refoulement, as countries cannot simply turn away individuals seeking asylum if it puts them at risk. The note also suggests that asylum is a temporary status and that asylees should ultimately return home, a view the report argues is not realistic.

Human Rights Watch is urging other nations to reject this attempt to dismantle the post-World War II global refugee system and instead renew their commitment to the core principles of the 1951 Refugee Convention.