US pulls out of UN refugees and migration pact

World
Europe

President Donald Trump has pulled the United States out of another international pact, with officials saying the low-profile Global Compact on Migration (GCM) is "inconsistent" with American policies.

The decision was announced by the US mission to the GCM, a global body that improves the handling of migrant and refugee situations.

"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 Americans said in a statement.

NIkki Haley, US Ambassador to the United Nations /Reuters Photo

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.

Under Trump and his "America First" policies, the United States has withdrawn from several global commitments made under the administration of president Barack Obama, including the Paris climate deal.

More recently, the US pulled out of the Paris-based culture and education body, UNESCO, accusing it of "anti-Israel bias."

Nikki Haley, US ambassador to the United Nations, speaks during a Security Council meeting on the situation in the DPRK, Nov. 29, 2017 at United Nations headquarters. /AP Photo

The GCM grew out of a high-level summit hosted by the UN General Assembly In September 2016. The 193 members unanimously adopted a non-binding political declaration, the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, pledging to uphold the rights of refugees, help them resettle and ensure they have access to education and jobs.

"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.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley said the country would continue its "generosity" in supporting migrants and refugees around the world, but that "our decisions on immigration policies must always be made by Americans and Americans alone."

"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."

Source(s): AFP