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.»
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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.
INTERNACIONAL
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Los príncipes de Gales, William y Harry de Gran Bretaña reaccionan cuando el ataúd de la reina Isabel de Gran Bretaña llega al Westminster Hall desde el Palacio de Buckingham para su velatorio, en Londres, Gran Bretaña, el 14 de septiembre de 2022. Foto ReutersHarry y Meghan, furiosos
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The Pentagon is reportedly pressuring Indo-Pacific allies Japan and Australia to clarify what roles they would play in the event of a war with China over Taiwan.
Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s policy chief, raised the question during recent meetings with Japanese and Australian defense officials, the Financial Times first reported.
While the United States has long urged Indo-Pacific allies to increase defense spending as China escalates its military activity around Taiwan, this push for specific wartime commitments is a new development — and reportedly caught foreign officials off guard.
Australia responded by stressing it would not commit troops in advance of any conflict.
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Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s policy chief, raised the question during recent meetings with Japanese and Australian defense officials, (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
«The decision to commit Australian troops to a conflict will be made by the government of the day, not in advance,» Defense Minister Pat Conroy told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. «We won’t discuss hypotheticals.»
Australia and the U.S. are currently leading a major joint exercise in Sydney involving 30,000 troops from 19 countries.
Pentagon officials have cited NATO’s efforts to boost European defense spending as a model for what Asian allies should consider. At the same time, Colby has advised European allies to prioritize threats closer to home rather than focus on the Indo-Pacific, sources told Fox News Digital.
«Some among our allies might not welcome frank conversations,» Colby posted on X in response to the report.
«But as the department has made abundantly and consistently clear, we at DOD are focused on implementing the president’s America First, common-sense agenda of restoring deterrence and achieving peace through strength. That includes urging allies to step up their defense spending and other efforts related to our collective defense.»
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The question of allied commitments is further complicated by the U.S. policy of strategic ambiguity, under which Washington does not explicitly state whether it would defend Taiwan if China invades.
«As Secretary Hegseth said, the Department of Defense is focused on preventing war, with a strong shield of deterrence,» Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell wrote on X in defense of Colby’s approach. «That requires strength — but it is a simple fact that our allies must also do their part. We do not seek war. What we are doing is ensuring the United States and its allies have the military strength to underwrite diplomacy and guarantee peace.»
Former President Joe Biden had repeatedly said the U.S. would defend Taiwan, only for White House staff to later walk back those comments and insist that U.S. policy has not changed.
President Donald Trump has maintained the tradition of ambiguity, refusing to publicly declare how he would respond. However, new audio obtained by CNN revealed that Trump told donors last year he threatened both Russia and China with military force.
Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth review an honor guard in Tokyo. The U.S. has asked Japan to clarify how it would assist in a potential conflict with China. (Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images)
«With Putin I said, ‘If you go into Ukraine, I’m going to bomb the [expletive] out of Moscow,’» Trump said. «‘I’m telling you. I have no choice.’ And then [Putin] goes, like, ‘I don’t believe you.’ But he believed me 10%.»
«I said the same thing to [Xi],» Trump added. «I said, ‘If you go into Taiwan, I’m going to bomb the [expletive] out of Beijing.’ I said, ‘I have no choice. I’ve got to bomb you.’»
At other times, Trump has criticized the cost of defending Taiwan and argued the island should dedicate 10% of its budget to defense.
Wargaming simulations suggest Japan would be the most crucial ally to the U.S. and Taiwan, as South Korea has not authorized American forces to launch combat operations from its territory. Australia does not permit permanent foreign military bases, but the U.S. is expanding its rotational presence at Australian facilities.
«Japan is always critical, and when I say critical, like we can’t win the war without them,» Mark Cancian, defense expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies who regularly briefs lawmakers on China wargames, told Fox News Digital.
«Their forces are important, but our ability to use our bases in Japan is critical,» he said, adding that other U.S. bases in the Indo-Pacific like Guam were too far away to serve as a hub.
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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (R) meets with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles (L) at the Pentagon in February. Australia has declined to say how it would respond to a potential war with China. (Getty Images )
Whether Japan allows the U.S. to center its wartime operations on its territory would be a critical question certain to come up in preparations for a wartime contingency.
The U.S. and Japan have practiced moving forces down the Japanese Ryukyu island chain, the closest of which is only 80 miles off the coast of Taiwan.
Colby’s push for defined allied roles comes on the heels of his initiation of a review of the AUKUS security pact, which aims to supply Australia with U.S.-built nuclear-powered submarines.
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The Pentagon recently defended Colby after reports emerged that he had temporarily halted military aid to Ukraine — an order quickly reversed by Trump.
Under the AUKUS agreement, Australia would purchase several Virginia-class submarines in the early 2030s, while a new class of submarines would be jointly developed by the U.S., U.K., and Australia. Production in Australia is expected to begin in the 2040s. However, the U.S. is already struggling to produce enough submarines for its own Navy.
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An Iranian movement called the «Blood Covenant» is claiming to have crowdfunded more than $40 million as a reward for assassinating President Donald Trump, according to the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).
A website for the movement contained a poster of Trump in crosshairs with an appeal to donate «in order to ‘help establish stable peace,’» the nonprofit reported. It added that the poster quotes a verse from the Quran that reads, «Strive with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allah.»
«This is a call to jihad, inviting believers to donate their money and sacrifice their lives,» MEMRI said. «The poster lends religious legitimacy to assassinating Trump.»
The apparent threat comes weeks after the U.S. launched devastating airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. A U.S. Secret Service official told Fox News «We operate in a heightened and very dynamic threat environment and the safety and security of the President and all of our protectees remains our highest priority.
TRUMP TARGETED BY IRANIAN DEATH FATWAS AS WATCHDOG GROUP DEMANDS IMMEDIATE SANCTIONS RESPONSE
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Donald Trump (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo)
«To preserve operational integrity, we cannot comment on specific protective intelligence matters. However, our teams work around the clock with international, federal, state, and local partners to ensure the highest levels of protection,» the official added.
MEMRI said «In Iran in recent days there has been an increase in explicit calls for assassinating Trump, from the Iranian regime’s religious establishment, due allegedly to a threat by Trump to assassinate Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei – even though Trump said he had actually prevented such a move.»
«These calls are backed by fatwas issued in late June by Iranian grand ayatollahs. The fatwas stated that the punishment for Trump is the same as for a muhareb – that is, an enemy of Allah and Islam – and that is death, and the permitting of his blood,» it continued.
«Iranian regime officials, among them Assembly of Expert members who are close to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior clerics and lecturers at the Howza-e Ilmiyya seminaries, and the regime’s Friday preachers, are explicitly calling for Trump’s assassination,» MEMRI added.
«The fact that these calls to assassinate Trump are coming from above and being echoed in the street and through all strata of society, including in the Iranian media, underlines the depth and uniformity of the regime’s institutional incitement,» it also said. «It reflects a broad religious and regime consensus strengthened by reiterated emphasis of the reward anyone carrying out the punishment against Trump can expect to receive – in addition to the $40.3 million, also Paradise and the status of a defender of Islam.»
IRAN CLAIMS ITS PRESIDENT WAS INJURED IN ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE LAST MONTH
Satellite images showing Iran’s Isfahan nuclear facility on June 16, left, and Monday, June 23, 2025, right, following U.S. airstrikes. (Planet Labs PBC)
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies alleged that an Iranian national and former employee for the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting – which it described as «the regime’s main propaganda network» – is behind the creation of the «Blood Covenant» website.
The State Department did not immediately respond Monday to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
A man waves a flag while standing on a sign representing the U.S. flag on the day of the funeral procession of Iranian military commanders, nuclear scientists and others killed in Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, on June 28, 2025. (Majid Asgaripour/WANA/Reuters)
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A senior State Department official said the Trump administration is aware of the threats against the president, according to the Washington Free Beacon.
Fox News’ Pat Ward contributed to this report.
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