- Title: IOM voices concern over Trump's speech, says encourages xenophobia
- Date: 22nd July 2016
- Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (JULY 22, 2016) (REUTERS) UNITED NATIONS BUILDING BRIEFING ONGOING (SOUNDBITE) (English) INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION'S (IOM) SPOKESMAN, JOEL MILLMAN, SAYING: "What is more concerning, and especially because it is from a leading country like the United States, is the encouragement of xenophobia in demonising migrants, legal and illegal - leg
- Embargoed: 6th August 2016 15:17
- Keywords: IOM International Organization for Migration Trump
- Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- City: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- Country: Switzerland
- Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0014RRSQIV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) voiced concern on Friday (July 22) after the Republican Party's candidate for the US presidential election Donald Trump delivered an acceptance speech focused on immigration and anti-illegal-immigrant rhetoric.
In this 75-minute long speech on Thursday, Donald Trump presented a bleak view of America under siege from illegal immigrants, accusing them of taking jobs from American citizens and committing crimes. He renewed his vow to build a "great border wall" notably with Mexico against the border-crossers.
"What is more concerning, and especially because it is from a leading country like the United States, is the encouragement of xenophobia in demonising migrants, legal and illegal - legal and undocumented I should say - is extremely troubling," IOM's spokesman Joel Millman told reporters during a news briefing in Geneva.
"We think it is beneath the American people to pander this kind of prejudice. But we also know that politicians worldwide have learned that migrants are a very easy target, they have very little protection often in these countries, and it is just too tempting for some politicians to advance their careers at the cost of hurting these people. And unfortunately we don't think that is going to change soon."
When asked what the IOM thought about the proposition of building a border wall, Millman said the temptation to build barriers and inhibit migration was "counter-productive". - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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