UN Indigenous Forum Hit by US Visa Delays
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- New York hosts the UN Indigenous forum this week, the world’s largest gathering of Indigenous peoples.
- U.S. has tightened visa approvals, delaying or denying entry for dozens of Indigenous delegates, according to the forum’s organizers.
- U.S. State Department cites security concerns for the delays, while critics say the policy undermines Indigenous participation.
- UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues will address the intersecting threats of war, climate change and AI, seeking to shape global policy from an Indigenous perspective.
Why it matters: Indigenous delegations lose representation as the forum’s 1,000‑plus participants are trimmed, while the U.S. faces diplomatic criticism; the reduced Indigenous voice weakens climate‑AI policy influence.
