New york: The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has issued a warning regarding the increasing racist hate speech by political leaders in the United States, highlighting concerns amidst intensified immigration crackdowns, particularly near sensitive areas like schools, hospitals, and faith-based institutions.

According to Anadolu Agency, CERD expressed concern over the use of derogatory and dehumanizing language, along with the spread of negative stereotypes targeting migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. The committee emphasized that such portrayals by politicians and influential figures at high levels could lead to racial discrimination and hate crimes.

The report also highlighted the systematic use of racial profiling and arbitrary identity checks by agencies such as the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Customs and Border Protection (CBP). These actions have led to widespread arrests of individuals perceived to belong to Hispanic/Latino, African, or Asian communities.

CERD raised alarms about the potential harm to the lives and physical integrity of these groups due to excessive force and violence by enforcement officers during immigration operations. Additionally, the committee criticized the US decision to lift restrictions on immigration enforcement in and near schools, hospitals, and places of worship, which it argues obstructs access to essential services for vulnerable communities.

The committee urged the United States to reassess legislative measures taken since January 2025 with a focus on human rights, to halt immigration enforcement in sensitive areas, and to explicitly outlaw racial profiling by law enforcement. Furthermore, CERD called for public condemnation of racial discrimination and racist hate speech and advocated for the establishment of human rights-based non-custodial alternatives to detention, particularly for children and families in vulnerable situations.