Trump's territory closure 'raises concerns under international law,' says UN

BEIRUT — The decision by Donald Trump to close the U.S. territory to citizens of 12 countries starting Monday "raises concerns under international law," said U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, on Thursday.

"The very broad and general scope of the new travel ban raises concerns under international law, notably over the principle of non-discrimination and the necessity and proportionality of measures deployed to address expressed security concerns," Volker Türk wrote in an email sent to AFP by his office.

However, beyond the announcement of the border closure to nationals of these 12 countries and the restrictions imposed on seven other states, the High Commissioner is concerned about the language used by the American president, particularly in speaking of "protecting the United States against foreign terrorists."

In a video posted on network X, Mr. Trump had been even more direct against "foreign nationals who have not been properly vetted" by asserting: "we don’t want them."

Türk, who acknowledges that every state has the right to manage its borders in compliance with international law, deemed these official statements "deeply regrettable," "denigrating the individuals affected by this measure." He believes they "risk contributing to the stigmatization of nationals from the concerned countries, both in the United States and elsewhere, and increasing their exposure to xenophobic hostility and abuse."

Starting Monday, the United States will prevent citizens of 12 countries from entering the U.S. to "protect" the country and will impose restrictions against seven other countries. Measures reminiscent of a ban that the American president had established during his first term.

The decision applies to Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, according to the White House.

Nationals from seven other countries are targeted by restrictions on visa issuance: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.