From the moment of his official inauguration as US president on January 20th, Donald Trump set out to carry out his promises: to finish the construction of a wall along the Mexican border and to obstruct the arrival of immigrants to the US by denying federal funds to so-called ‘sanctuary cities’, which offer protection to undocumented people. His latest executive order, signed on Friday, denies entry to the US to citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, and imposes a moratorium on access to the country for Syrians seeking asylum. Even the acting attorney general, Sally Yates, has questioned the legality of these measures, and refused to defend any anti-immigration measure. Trump didn’t take long to respond, and by Monday she had been dismissed.
These measures constitute a violation of international human rights law, as they discriminate on the grounds of origin, religion and nationality, and send back people to countries where they may face persecution. Sovereign acts cannot be allowed to contravene the right to judicial protection, due process, equality, freedom from discrimination or the principle of religious neutrality of the State. This has been recognised by the recent court decision that has provisionally stopped the implementation of the January 27th executive order.
Thousands of people, particularly those most vulnerable, are being affected by these measures. We would do well to remember that the main reason behind population movements in the world are huge global inequalities, poverty, and the lack of opportunities. The aim of the decisions taken by the new US administration is none other than to establish an unfair and dangerous link between the counter-terrorism rhetoric and the efficacy of immigration legislation.
On a different note, the re-introduction of the so-called “global gag rule”, which denies access to US federal funds to NGOs that offer counselling and advice on sexual health and reproductive rights, is a clear attack against the rights of women and girls, particularly those who are suffering from abuse.
It is undeniable that our own government ought to show great concern and publicly denounce this authoritarian, sexist and xenophobic drift, instead of acting as its accomplice, as it has done so far. Back in November last year, Podemos presented a motion in parliament asking the government to incorporate a set of principles in its bilateral relations with the US. We stated then, as we do now, that diplomacy can and should never be at odds with the defence and protection of human rights, gender equality, and social justice.
Tuesday the 31st of January, 2017
