(NewsNation) — Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called on the United Nations Human Rights Council to investigate alleged “violations of human rights” under the Trump administration during virtual remarks delivered Friday from Geneva, Switzerland.
“This administration seeks to evade scrutiny for its violations of human rights — just as it has sought to evade accountability for its actions in cities like mine,” Johnson said.
He urged the U.N. to hold the U.S. to the same standards it applies to other nations.
“We cannot do this alone,” Johnson said. “That is why I call on this Council to hold the federal government of the United States to the same standards of accountability you apply elsewhere in the world. No country should be above international law. Human rights are universal — or they are meaningless.”
Johnson also criticized federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, saying they’ve deepened food insecurity for residents.
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“As someone with first-hand experience, I can tell you how humiliating it is when you open the refrigerator and you have nothing to eat,” he said. “In the wealthiest country in the world, there is no reason why our federal government should allow hundreds of thousands of Chicagoans to go hungry.”
The mayor further condemned federal immigration enforcement practices, accusing agents of violent raids that have separated families and detained children.
“In Chicago, we live with the consequences of that moral failure every day. Families torn apart by immigration raids. Raids that have targeted daycare teachers, ride-share drivers, and restaurant cooks. Honest, hardworking, law-abiding people who contribute to the soul of Chicago, who literally make our city run.”
Johnson reaffirmed Chicago’s commitment to protecting immigrants through the city’s Welcoming City Ordinance and community-based “Rapid Response” networks.
He closed his remarks by inviting U.N. leaders to visit Chicago and witness the impact firsthand.
