President to U.N.: Unaccountable International Organizations Should Not Control Migration

Speaking before the United Nations General Assembly yesterday, President Donald Trump touted the “right of every nation… to set its own immigration policy in accordance with its national interests.” He addressed instances of “uncontrolled migration” and confirmed the United States will not participate in the new Global Compact on Migration, saying “Migration should not be governed by an international body unaccountable to our own citizens.”

The following are excerpts from his speech:

“(A)merica will always choose independence and cooperation over global governance, control, and domination. I honor the right of every nation in this room to pursue its own customs, beliefs, and traditions. The United States will not tell you how to live or work or worship. We only ask that you honor our sovereignty in return.

“The ongoing tragedy in Syria is heartbreaking. Our shared goals must be the de-escalation of military conflict, along with a political solution that honors the will of the Syrian people…I commend the people of Jordan and other neighboring countries for hosting refugees from this very brutal civil war. As we see in Jordan, the most compassionate policy is to place refugees as close to their homes as possible to ease their eventual return to be part of the rebuilding process. This approach also stretches finite resources to help far more people, increasing the impact of every dollar spent.

“The United States is also working with partners in Latin America to confront threats to sovereignty from uncontrolled migration…Illegal immigration funds criminal networks, ruthless gangs, and the flow of deadly drugs. Illegal immigration exploits vulnerable populations, hurts hardworking citizens, and has produced a vicious cycle of crime, violence, and poverty. Only by upholding national borders, destroying criminal gangs, can we break this cycle and establish a real foundation for prosperity.

“We recognize the right of every nation in this room to set its own immigration policy in accordance with its national interests, just as we ask other countries to respect our own right to do the same — which we are doing. That is one reason the United States will not participate in the new Global Compact on Migration. Migration should not be governed by an international body unaccountable to our own citizens.

“Ultimately, the only long-term solution to the migration crisis is to help people build more hopeful futures in their home countries. Make their countries great again.”

Vice President Pence also spoke at the U.N., promising an additional $48 million in humanitarian assistance to care for the 1.6 million Venezuelan migrants who fled to Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, and Brazil.

Read more about his speech in The Washington Times.