UNGA 2026: Trump says no human right to illegal immigration
United States (US) President Donald Trump has defended strict immigration controls, telling the United Nations that countries have the right to protect their borders and preserve national sovereignty. Addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, Trump said immigration policy should remain under the control of individual sovereign […]
On Tuesday, September 22, 2026, during the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, U.S. President Donald Trump delivered remarks regarding immigration and national sovereignty. Trump asserted that countries possess the right to protect their borders and maintain national sovereignty, emphasizing that there is no human right to illegal immigration but rather a right to remain a sovereign nation.
He advocated for immigration policy to remain under the control of individual nations instead of international institutions. Trump criticized the perceived excessive influence of international organizations and defended his administration's approach to border enforcement, which he claimed has significantly strengthened border controls and reduced illegal crossings.
His comments at the UN aligned with the Trump administration's broader immigration policy pursued since January 2025, which emphasized tightening border controls and restoring American sovereignty over immigration and border security. Trump reiterated his belief that governments should have the authority to determine who enters their territories, under what conditions, and in what numbers.
This stance echoed his previous statements during his first presidency in 2018. The issue of immigration remains contentious internationally due to the competing legal and humanitarian principles involved, such as a state's authority to control its borders and the protections afforded to asylum seekers or others seeking international protection.
Trump's latest comments followed the administration's ongoing efforts to reduce irregular migration and increase immigration enforcement, despite some independent fact-checking cautioning against certain of the administration's broader claims about illegal immigration. The immigration debate also influenced US citizenship policy, as highlighted by the June 2026 US Supreme Court ruling in Trump v.
Barbara, which ruled that children born in the United States to parents who are unlawfully or temporarily present are granted citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment. Trump's address at the UN also criticized multilateral approaches, attacking several UN-related institutions and opposing global governance initiatives, framing immigration as part of a broader argument over sovereignty and the role of international institutions.
Written by urgent.news from People Daily Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
