INTERNACIONAL
Trump urged to review UN immunity, lax visa rules amid national security concerns
A 1947 agreement outlining obligations as host of the United Nations continues to give employees and their family members relatively unfettered access to the U.S.
At a time of increased national security fears and immigration enforcement by the Trump administration, experts are urging a re-examination of the host nation agreement with an eye to the functional immunity granted to U.N. staff and the limited vetting given to those with U.N. visas.
«The United States appears to have taken a relaxed view of the individuals entering the country associated with the U.N., either as employees or as representatives of various country missions. And yet we know that U.N. employees have had, and continue to have, close, direct relationships with terrorist organizations, like UNRWA and Hamas,» Anne Bayefsky, director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust and president of Human Rights Voices, told Fox News Digital.
UN WATCHDOG PROJECT CALLS ON DOGE CAUCUS TO ‘AUDIT’ THE INTERNATIONAL ORG
Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s minister for foreign affairs, talks with Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s U.N. ambassador, during a meeting of the U.N. Security Council, April 24, 2023. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Bayefsky said there is «a disconnect between the welcome routine and the significant harm to American interests. Hosting the U.N. does not require the host country to facilitate or endure threats to its national security.»
The federal government grants G visas to employees, spouses and children of international organizations, including the U.N., who reside in, or are visiting, the U.S. According to the State Department’s website, «if you are entitled to a G visa, under U.S. visa law, you must receive a G visa. The exceptions to this rule are extremely limited.» The Department of State also explains that «Embassies and consulates generally do not require an interview for those applying for G-1 – 4 and NATO-1 – 6 visas, although a consular officer can request an interview.»
Hugh Dugan, a senior advisor to 11 U.S. former ambassadors to the U.N., told Fox News Digital that it «appears to me that the issuance of the G visas for [U.N. employees] is a relatively rubber stamp exercise.» While not requiring interviews of personnel has «become a matter of convenience, frankly, we should always be able to assess a threat to our country.»’
Dugan, a former National Security Council special assistant to the president and senior director for international organization affairs, said nations like Russia and China are only allowed to travel a certain distance from U.N. headquarters. «We are mindful of our adversaries’ activities and presence here, but the door is open to participate in the U.N. and the host country agreement makes that possible so that no country would be barred because of a certain political atmosphere or issue that might be brewing between us and them.»
Former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi displays the photo of Gen. Kasim Soleimani at the United Nations. (Peter Aitken for Fox News Digital)
Fox News Digital asked the State Department whether it requires interviews for staff from adversarial member states, including Cuba, Venezuela, Russia, North Korea, Iran and China, but received no response. A State Department spokesperson reiterated that consular officers «have full authority to require an in-person interview for any reason.»
Peter Gallo, formerly an investigator with the U.N. Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), told Fox News Digital that he is particularly concerned about the functional immunity granted to U.N. staff participating in activities related to their employment. Gallo explained that «U.S. legal system has come to accept that pretty much it’s a blanket coverage.» He added that «immunity breeds impunity.»
REPUBLICANS SEEK TO BLOCK THE REAPPOINTMENT OF UN OFFICIAL ACCUSED OF ANTISEMITISM
Gallo claimed that there is an epidemic of sexual offenses and misconduct among U.N. staff. He cited an incident in which a U.N. employee outside the U.S. sexually harassed «a young female in his department.» Gallo said it took two years after receipt of the investigation report for an investigation to be completed, which resulted in the demotion of the offending employee. Gallo said the employee who was harassed, and her harasser remained in the same organization.
Gallo said that if employees take part in misconduct while based at U.N. headquarters, the U.S. government should be able to examine cases and determine whether staff should retain their G visas.
Dugan said that if U.N. personnel «knew that [immunity] could be lifted at any time by us… they might start behaving a lot differently.»
China’s Vice President Han Zheng addresses the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Sept. 21, 2023. (Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images)
In response to questions about whether U.N. staff have been accused of sexual misconduct in the U.S., or whether U.N. staff who engaged in misconduct have had their G visas revoked, a State Department spokesperson explained the department «generally does not provide» revocation statistics. They also said that «all visa applicants, no matter the visa type and where they are located, are continuously vetted. Security vetting runs from the time of each application, through adjudication of the visa, and afterwards during the validity period of every issued visa, to ensure the individual remains eligible to travel to the United States.»
The spokesperson said officials of the U.N. «are expected to respect applicable laws of the United States, including criminal laws. Failure to do so may constitute an abuse of privileges of residence.» They added that this «applies for those who hold diplomatic immunity for their positions as well.»
Among staff who have raised internal alarm bells is U.N. special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese, who traveled to the U.S. in 2024 to deliver a report before the Third Committee of the General Assembly. Albanese, whose antisemitism has been condemned widely by senior U.S. diplomats and the State Department, was allowed to tour multiple U.S. college campuses while in the U.S.
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In addition to qualifying for «rubber stamp» G visas, staff of international organizations like the United Nations can qualify for green cards if they have spent half of at least seven years of employment inside the U.S., or have been in the U.S. for a combined total of 15 years prior to retirement.
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President Donald Trump bestowed the Medal of Honor to three U.S. Army soldiers Monday, in a White House ceremony honoring their «unsurpassed courage.»
The president touted the «three really incredible American heroes — one living and two no longer with us.»
The president posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to Master Sgt. Roderick (Roddie) W. Edmonds; posthumously awarded the medal to Staff Sgt. Michael H. Ollis and awarded the medal to Command Sergeant Major Terry P. Richardson.
The president, Monday, first introduced the award for Edmonds.
President Donald Trump speaking before participating in a Medal of Honor ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Monday, March 2, 2026, in Washington. (Mark Schiefelbein/The Associated Press )
«In 1941, Roddie Edmonds of Knoxville, Tennessee, enlisted in the US Army and soon rose to one of the youngest master sergeants in the military,» the president said. «In 1944, he sailed to Europe vim and vigor, Roddie soon found himself on the front lines of the Battle of the Bulge. That was a big one, massively outnumbered by enemy forces, his 1,200 soldier unit fought valiantly until they were completely overrun. The force was massive on the other side. … After a four day death march, one that was covered very well by the history books, through bitter cold, they were put into a German POW camp.»
The president said Edmonds «was the top ranking infantryman and the camp he was number one, meaning he was responsible for the lives of his fellow service members.»
«On July 26th, 1945, a Nazi SS officer issued an order over the camp loudspeaker, loud and strong, he said that only American Jews were to show up to roll call. Following this morning, he added all who disobey this order will be shot immediately,» the president explained. «There were more than 200 Jewish American soldiers in the camp, and Roddy knew their separation from the group would mean certain death. So that night he summoned his team and devised a plan. The next morning, all 1200 American men fell in line together, shoulder to shoulder. Enraged, the Nazi commandant rushed forward, drew his Luger pistol, and pressed the barrel between Sergeant Edmond’s eyes. He barked at Roddy, they cannot all be Jews! He screamed loud and again and again, and staring straight back into the raging face of evil, Sergeant Edmonds replied fearlessly, ‘we are all Jews here.’The Nazi officer lowered his weapon and the soldiers erupted in cheers.»
The president said that «with total disregard for his own life, Roddie had saved over 200 of his fellow service members.»
«Their camp was liberated two months later,» the president said.
The award was accepted by Edmonds’ son, Chris.
Next, the president honored Richardson.
«On September 12th, 1968, 102 brave men of Terry’s Alpha Company were tasked with securing Hill 222 deep behind the enemy’s line in Vietnam,» Trump said.
«They didn’t know it at the time, had no idea, but the area was totally infested with nearly 300 enemy bunkers and many, many enemy soldiers, far outnumbering them by at least 4- or 5-, even 6-to-1,» the president said. «As Terry led Lima Platoon up Hill 222, the enemy launched an ambitious and violent attack, unleashing a withering fire of machine guns and rocket propelled grenades. Just didn’t stop. They just kept coming, pinned down and hell on Earth.»
The president said, «Terry summoned unimaginable courage. Three times. He exposed himself to enemy fire to rescue severely wounded comrades, and three times he dragged them back to the group.»
«Terry soon realized that the 82 remaining men had one chance of survival. That was air support. Acting without regard of his own life, he grabbed the radio and charged up hill 222 alone. He needed to be there. It was the only place you’d get reception,» the president explained. «He withstood a storm of enemy bullets, eventually reaching the top where he spent the next eight hours calling in tactical strikes, completely exposed….An enemy sniper shot rang out and the bullet tore through his right leg violently. He was in bad shape, but Terry disregarded that and pushed through. And after seven more hours of calling in American fire from above, the enemy retreated.»
«Later that day, his team found him with both eardrums totally ruptured and a mangled right leg and foot, but still barely living but living nevertheless,» the president said. «Due to Terry’s actions above and beyond the call of duty 82 men, Alpha company survived this battle, including two in this room.»
The president invited Norm Meyer and Dave Hemmer to stand up.
IN MEMORY OF WORLD WAR II VETERAN LESTER TANNER: ‘WE ARE ALL JEWISH’
The president congratulated Richardson, and told him that «today you entered the ranks of the bravest warriors ever to strike the face of the earth.»
Finally, the president posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to Staff Sgt. Michael H. Ollis for gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty, while serving in Afghanistan.
«On August 28th, 2013, terrorists detonated a 400 pound car bomb on the east wall of the Forward operating base Kinzie, ripping open a 60 foot wide breach into a compound that housed NATO coalition forces,» the president explained. «A lot of them, ten Taliban fighters wearing suicide vests swarm through from across the compound.»
«Michael saw the pillar of white smoke rising and ran to join the fight, rushing without his gear, wearing almost no gear, no Kevlar helmet, no body armor. Just one magazine in his rifle,» the president continued. «Along the way, he encountered a Polish soldier, and together they advanced under heavy fire. Very, very heavy fire. At one point, shrapnel ripped through the Polish soldier’s legs, rendering him unable to walk very, very severely hurt. In that chaos of gunfire, explosions and charred human remains, a terrorist insurgent appeared rounding a corner with his suicide vest, fully armed. And you could see it. It was going to happen.»
The president said the terrorist «charged the wounded Polish soldier without hesitation.»
«Michael raised his gun and forced himself between the insurgent and the man he just met, shielding him with his own body. He knew what was going to happen,» the president said. «He shielded him with his own body.»
«You know, bravery is amazing. You never really know who’s brave, who’s not until they’re really tested,» the president said. «We think some people are brave, and they’re not. We think others aren’t. And they are. You never know.»
But Trump said Ollis «was tested.»
«That’s called the ultimate test, right? And it perhaps his final heartbeat,» the president said. «Michael fired his weapon, and the terrorist detonated his vest. Simultaneously, staff Sergeant Ollis was killed just weeks before his 25th birthday. And nobody was any more brave than that.»
The president added: «And his final act on earth, Michael, absorbed the blast, sparing the life of that Polish warrior who we are grateful to have in the room with us today.»
The president invited Polish Second Lieutenant Carol Sarah Piqua to come to the podium.
The Medal of Honor is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who, according to the White House, «distinguish themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their own lives above and beyond the call of duty.»
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The White House said the honorees are individuals who «engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.»
The White House said the conduct «must involve great personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the individual above his or her comrades and must have involved risk of life.»
«There must be incontestable proof of the performance of the meritorious conduct, and each recommendation for the award must be considered on the standard of extraordinary merit,» the White House said.
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Satellite images released Monday show fires burning and vast plumes of black smoke rising from Iran’s main naval headquarters at Bandar Abbas, with at least one vessel ablaze following a strike.
The images, from Planet Labs, were released within days of the U.S. and Israel launching targeted strikes on Iran, and ahead of President Donald Trump saying he would not rule out sending U.S. troops into Iran if «necessary» amid Operation Epic Fury.
The escalation comes as commercial tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has effectively stalled, according to maritime intelligence firm Windward AI.
Bandar Abbas fires rage at Iran’s main naval headquarters (PLANET LABV)
According to the Times of Israel, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) commander also said the Strait of Hormuz was closed Monday, with Iran claiming it would set fire to any vessel trying to pass.
Fox News National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin confirmed the Strait of Hormuz was not closed, according to CENTCOM.
Bandar Abbas, the capital of Hormozgan Province, occupies a key position along the Strait of Hormuz and the port is a key base serving as the headquarters of the Iranian Navy.
«As of 10:56 a.m. GMT on March 2, 2026, the Port of Bandar Abbas is experiencing multiple active fires, including one aboard a berthed vessel, while maintaining a significant combined military and commercial presence at port facilities,» Windward AI reported.
FROM MISSILES TO MINERALS: THE STRATEGIC MEANING BEHIND THE IRAN STRIKE
A satellite view of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy supply, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. (Gallo Images/Orbital Horizon/Copernicus Sentinel Data 2025/Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital)
«Three distinct fires are currently reported in the vicinity. Two are located at port infrastructure facilities, and one involves a vessel currently at berth.»
Seventeen military vessels and five commercial ships remained docked despite the fires, the firm said, noting that the continued military concentration suggests «a heightened defensive posture rather than evacuation.»
Windward warned that active fires at Iran’s principal naval and commercial port introduce «additional operational uncertainty» and raise the risk of secondary maritime disruption across the Gulf.
Video footage also shared by Iran International appeared to show an attack targeting Iranian naval air facilities in Bandar Abbas.
KEY MILITARY SITES TARGETED INSIDE IRAN AS PART OF COORDINATED US-ISRAELI STRIKES
Naval units from Iran and Russia simulate the rescue of a hijacked vessel during joint drills at the Port of Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan, Iran, on Feb. 19, 2026. (Iranian Army/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Satellite imagery analyzed by BBC Verify identified a damaged vessel about 230 meters (750 feet) long — consistent, it said, with a Makran-class forward base ship operated by the Iranian Navy.
The Makran, a converted tanker measuring about 228 meters, is also a mobile maritime base and helicopter carrier capable of deploying up to five helicopters and fast-attack boats.
The strike at Iran’s naval HQ came on the third day of open conflict, with U.S. Central Command saying it had sunk 11 Iranian vessels in the Gulf of Oman.
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«Two days ago, the Iranian regime had 11 ships in the Gulf of Oman, today they have ZERO,» CENTCOM said on X.
Trump has said «annihilating» Iran’s naval forces is a core objective of Operation Epic Fury, and that the U.S. has destroyed nine Iranian naval ships so far.
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INTERNACIONAL
La cronología del conflicto Estados Unidos-Irán y el efecto Trump en la política internacional, según el analista internacional Mauro Enbe
En una entrevista en Infobae en vivo, el analista internacional Mauro Enbe trazó una radiografía contundente sobre la nueva fase de tensión en Medio Oriente: “Hoy Estados Unidos e Israel tienen control aéreo total de lo que pasa en Irán”.
En una charla con el equipo de Infobae a la Tarde, integrado por Manu Jove, Maia Jastreblansky, Paula Guardia Bourdin y Marcos Shaw, Enbe sostuvo que el escenario actual es la consecuencia directa del ataque perpetrado por el grupo terrorista Hamás el 7 de octubre de 2023: “Ahora está explotando algo que viene hace muchísimo tiempo y que todos sabemos que nació con ese ataque. Si no hubiese pasado eso, esto hubiese tardado más. No digo que no hubiese pasado, pero hubiese tardado mucho más”.
El especialista describió cómo la ofensiva de Hamás desencadenó una serie de movimientos regionales sin precedentes: “No solo fue la operación israelí en la Franja de Gaza, sino que también se involucró Hezbolá desde Líbano y se dio el primer enfrentamiento directo Israel-Irán en 2024. Después, en 2025, llegó la guerra abierta, lo que llamó Trump la ‘Guerra de los Doce Días’”.
Enbe detalló que la intervención estadounidense era un desenlace previsible: “Estados Unidos movilizó gran parte de su flota, incluso con portaviones. Uno decía: ‘¿Cuándo va a tomar acción?’ Yo contaba de a sábados, porque el sábado el mercado está cerrado y el domingo el mundo tiene un día para asimilar el golpe. Finalmente pasó”.
Consultado sobre la raíz profunda del conflicto, Enbe recordó: “No es que esto viene de hace unos años. Viene de hace décadas. El escenario actual nació con la Revolución Islámica en 1979. El ayatolá Jomeiní impuso una dictadura de corte islámico fundamentalista y al mismo tiempo desafió a Occidente, sobre todo a Estados Unidos e Israel”.
La influencia del presidente estadounidense resultó central en el análisis de Enbe: “Trump asume por segunda vez y absorbe toda la presión de la política exterior. Ya no se habla de Estados Unidos, se habla de Trump. Es un presidente que lleva adelante todo en primera persona”. El analista hizo hincapié en la velocidad inusual de las decisiones y su comunicación: “No solo toma las decisiones más rápido, sino que las comunica a la misma velocidad”.
Sobre el armado político estadounidense, Enbe profundizó: “Hay dos factores a tener en cuenta: las elecciones de medio término del 3 de noviembre y que Trump no puede ser reelecto. Así que tiene mucho menos que perder. Lo que van a buscar es que este conflicto termine rápido. Rápido no son horas, pero sí dos semanas, un mes como muchísimo”.
El especialista advirtió sobre el golpe regional que implican los ataques de Irán: “Irán atacó a cualquiera que tuviese una base estadounidense. Para mí está rompiendo puentes. Catar, que alojó negociaciones, podría sumarse con Estados Unidos e Israel contra Irán”.
Enbe alertó sobre los efectos indirectos para la Argentina: “Siempre tiene repercusiones. Como país con una economía volátil y con un presidente jugado, cualquier fluctuación en el precio del petróleo lo vamos a ver. También el alineamiento de Javier Milei con Estados Unidos e Israel, que lo dijo en la apertura de sesiones en el Congreso”.
Consultado por la posibilidad de un aislamiento de Irán en la región, Enbe fue categórico: “Aliado estatal, oficial, que pueda llevar a una alianza militar, Irán no lo tiene. Lo que tiene son aliados no estatales, como Hezbolá. Pero hoy, si Irán ataca con misiles balísticos, se está quedando solo. Sus propios vecinos están diciendo: ‘Irán nos está trayendo mucho quilombo’. Antes veían a Estados Unidos e Israel como el problema. Ahora, Irán también”.
Respecto al impacto energético, sostuvo: “Con el aumento del precio del barril de petróleo, puede subir el precio del combustible. Hoy estaría bloqueado el estrecho de Ormuz, por donde pasa el 20 % del gas y el petróleo a nivel internacional. Frente a una escasez o miedo, el precio sube y eso va a repercutir. El conflicto es en Medio Oriente, pero puede subir la inflación en Argentina por la cuestión energética, que es un componente esencial del IPC”.
El analista también trazó paralelismos con la historia reciente: “No es tan diferente de lo que comunicó Trump sobre armas de destrucción masiva, algo parecido a lo que pasó con Bush y Sadam Huseín. La diferencia es que por ahora no hay tropas estadounidenses en el terreno. Trump dijo: ‘Puede pasar por ahora’. Si la población civil no se involucra, cambiar el régimen es casi imposible”.
La conversación giró también sobre la legitimidad de los organismos internacionales: “La ONU se volvió algo tan ineficaz que nadie la respeta. Hoy sobrevive gracias a Europa. Macron incluso declaró que Francia podría usar armamento nuclear si es necesario”.
Sobre el futuro político de Estados Unidos, Enbe evaluó la posibilidad de que Trump intente forzar una interpretación constitucional para buscar un tercer mandato: “Lo va a intentar. En Estados Unidos mucho depende de la interpretación judicial. Podría tener un punto, pero sería inédito. Creo que las instituciones estadounidenses no lo van a permitir”.
Finalmente, el analista descartó la visión de una Tercera Guerra Mundial tradicional: “No soy afín a esa idea. Lo que estamos viendo es un regreso al mundo del siglo XIX, con conflictos más comunes y menos incentivos a la moderación. El miedo a la guerra mundial se está perdiendo, porque ya no hay generaciones que hayan visto el desastre nuclear”.
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