No Business With Genocide acknowledges the U.S. Department of State’s announcement of a new visa restriction policy aimed at individuals complicit in the forced return of Uyghurs and other persecuted groups to China. While we welcome this step, it is clear that this action is largely symbolic. The Trump administration must do more to prevent the deportation of those who remain at risk and take meaningful steps to protect vulnerable Uyghurs globally.
We are thankful to the members of Congress that have encouraged a response from the State Department, and we are glad to see this step towards accountability. We encourage Secretary Rubio to consider swift additional actions, as the failure to save 40 innocent men should weigh heavily on the conscience of the entire international community. We need to see more in order to prevent the deportation of those that remain.
The forced repatriation of Uyghurs is part of China’s ongoing strategy of transnational repression, ensuring that those who flee persecution find no safe haven, and are sent back to face detention, torture, and even disappearance. Despite recognizing China’s atrocities as genocide, U.S. policy remains far too rhetorical.
At No Business With Genocide, we have observed that much of the approach from the United States on Uyghurs is rhetorical, and we hope to see more tangible consequences for both Thai and Chinese officials. We also hope that the United StaCaltes will explore solutions for Uyghur refugees as seeking asylum remains nearly impossible for many.
If the United States is serious about stopping China’s genocide against the Uyghurs, it must do more. We call on the administration to take increasingly strong action—including the imposition of targeted sanctions, stronger diplomatic pressure on governments complicit in forced deportations, and the establishment of clear refugee pathways for Uyghur refugees to seek safety in the U.S. and allied nations.
No Business With Genocide remains committed to ensuring that no government or corporation is complicit in the ongoing Uyghur genocide. We urge policymakers to back words with action before more lives are lost.