Trump pulls US out of UN migration pact
December 3, 2017
US President Donald Trump's administration has withdrawn the United States from a United Nations pact to coordinate and improve international migration and refugee issues, the US mission to the global body said.
"Today, the US Mission to the United Nations informed the UN Secretary-General that the United States is ending its participation in the Global Compact on Migration," the US mission to the UN said.
In September 2016, all 193 UN member states of the General Assembly adopted the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants.
The non-binding declaration includes a set of pledges to protect migrants, foster migrant integration, develop guidelines on the treatment of vulnerable migrants and strengthen global governance of migration, among other issues.
"The New York Declaration contains numerous provisions that are inconsistent with US immigration and refugee policies and the Trump Administration's immigration principles. As a result, President Trump determined that the United States would end its participation in the Compact process that aims to reach international consensus at the UN in 2018," the US statement said.
Read more: US refugee intake slashed to 45,000
Mediterranean 'world's deadliest border' for migrants, says UN
US Ambassador Nikki Haley said, "America is proud of our immigrant heritage and long-standing leadership" on supporting migrants and refugees.
"No country has done more than the United States, and our generosity will continue. But our decisions on immigration policies must always be made by Americans and Americans alone," she added. "We will decide how best to control our borders and who will be allowed to enter our country. The global approach in the New York Declaration is simply not compatible with US sovereignty."
The Trump administration has withdrawn from several international commitments made under the Obama administration, including the Paris climate accord and Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.
In October, the United States said it will withdraw from UNESCO, citing what it called the UN culture and education body's "anti-Israel bias."