WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 29th November, 2018) A group of UN human rights rapporteurs and experts accused the US government of fueling a climate of intolerance by characterizing migrants as importers of crime and disease, the United Nations said in a press release on Tuesday.
In a statement earlier this week, US Homeland Security chief Kirstjen Nielsen said more than 600 members of a migrant caravan looking to enter the United States are convicted criminals. Nielsen said this includes individuals allegedly guilty of rape, child abuse, and drug trafficking, among other crimes.
"In addition to violating international law, the [UN] experts accused the US of stigmatizing migrants and refugees, by accusing them of importing crime and disease, fueling a climate of intolerance, racial hatred and xenophobia," the release said.
The letters also criticized US border control methods including the use of tear gas which "fly in the face of international human rights equality and non-discrimination standards."
According to the release, the group made the comments in separate letters to the governments of the United States, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. The UN Special Rapporteur on migrants rights Felipe Gonzalez Morales and Special Rapporteur on xenophobia, racism and intolerance, E. Tendayi Achiume, were among the ten officials.
Last week, a caravan of about 5,600 asylum-seeking migrants from poor Central American countries reached the Mexican city of Tijuana near the US border. On Sunday, about 500 of the migrants attempted to storm the US border. US border agents after being hit with projectiles deployed tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the group.
US President Donald Trump said the use of tear gas was necessary because the border agents were being rushed by "some very tough people." The White House said the deployment of the non-lethal weaponry was appropriate and in line with standard law enforcement practices.
