‘No human right to illegal immigration’: Trump says UN nations have right to remain sovereign

US President Donald Trump told the United Nations General Assembly that there is “no human right to illegal immigration” and argued that countries have a right to protect their sovereignty, using his address to defend his administration’s immigration policies and criticize what he described as the promotion of mass migration.

US President Donald Trump walks after exiting Marine One as he returns after attending the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City, on the South Lawn of the White House, Washington, D.C., US, September 23, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard REFILE - QUALITY REPEAT (REUTERS)“There is no human right to illegal immigration, but there is a right to remain a sovereign nation. We want to remain a sovereign nation, and so should you,” Trump said during his address in New York.

Trump also criticized the United Nations and UNESCO while linking migration to the preservation of national cultures and heritage.

“It is deeply ironic that the United Nations has an entire institution, the UNESCO group of people and countries, devoted to protecting cultural heritage, yet with their ceaseless promotion of mass migration, these globalists are actively destroying the greatest cultures and most extraordinary heritage in all of history,” he said.

The US Department of State subsequently highlighted Trump’s sovereignty and immigration remarks in a post on X.

Trump’s comments reflect a central theme of his administration’s approach to immigration: that individual countries should retain control over who enters their territory and under what conditions.

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His remarks at the UN came as his administration has pursued tighter immigration enforcement and restrictions on illegal entry into the United States.

Trump framed the issue primarily as one of national sovereignty, arguing that governments have the authority to determine their own immigration policies rather than being bound by international pressure.

His reference to UNESCO also broadened the argument beyond border enforcement, as he connected migration with national identity and cultural heritage.

Trump also used the UN speech to reject international efforts to establish what he described as a global framework for controlling artificial intelligence.

“The United States also totally rejects any attempt to construct a globalist scheme to control” artificial intelligence, Trump said.

He proposed referring to artificial intelligence as “Superintelligence”, arguing that the term “artificial” makes the technology sound less capable than it is.

Trump’s comments placed immigration and AI within the same broader argument: that the US should retain control over its domestic policies and technological development rather than surrendering authority to international institutions.

Asmi is a Senior Content Producer primarily covering stories related to NRIs, immigration, visas, citizenship and global mobility. She closely follows developments that affect Indians living, working and studying abroad, with a particular focus on translating complex policies and international developments into clear, accessible stories for readers. As part of the US Desk, Asmi also reports on a wide range of political, economic and social developments in the United States, exploring their relevance to Indian and global audiences. Her work spans breaking news, features, trends and explanatory stories, with an emphasis on accuracy, timely reporting and audience-focused storytelling. Asmi likes finding the human angle behind major developments and bringing context to stories that can often feel complicated or distant. She is especially interested in stories around immigration, life abroad, careers, education and the experiences of the Indian diaspora, while also exploring a wide range of topics that spark curiosity and conversation. Outside the newsroom, Asmi is an avid reader and loves travelling, discovering new places, experiencing different cultures and collecting stories along the way.Read More