NEW YORK – In response to President Trump’s federal budget, Amnesty International USA’s executive director, Margaret Huang, released the following statement:
“President Trump’s budget is a rejection of American leadership on human rights and will hurt people inside U.S. and all over the world. Instead of strengthening human rights, Trump wants to invest in a border wall, a Muslim ban and the detention of more desperate people seeking asylum here. While the U.S. operates the largest immigration detention system in the world, costing Americans $2 billion annually, Trump is asking for even more money for his cruel enforcement policies.
“This proposal also reflects President Trump’s proud indifference to the rest of the world. Foreign assistance adds up to less than one percent of the U.S. annual budget but gives priceless aide to some of the most vulnerable people across the globe. Slashing that funding means gutting development aide, humanitarian programs and peacekeeping missions in countries where millions of lives are at risk. This budget will have global consequences and Congress should reject it out of hand.