The man nominated by President Trump to become the new head of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has a history of anti-Islamic statements and of denying the relevance of climate change to migration trends.

The head of the IOM, the United Nations’ migration agency, coordinates billions of dollars in assistance to migrants around the world and is expected to be an advocate for progressive migration policy.

But Ken Isaacs, currently a vice president of the Christian relief organisation Samaritan’s Purse, has, in social media posts and in radio interviews, made disparaging remarks about Muslims.

In June, after a terrorist attack in London, Isaac reposted and commented on a CNN International story that quoted a Catholic bishop saying “This isn’t in the name of God, this isn’t what the Muslim faith instructs the faithful to do”.

Isaacs responded: “CNN, Bishop if you read the Quran you will know ‘this’ is exactly what the Muslim faith instructs the faithful to do”.

Isaacs also ridiculed Obama for wanting to accept large numbers of Syrian refugees as a “foolish and delusional” attempt to “show cultural enlightenment”.

Civil society groups have expressed unease at Isaacs’ nomination, especially after the US pulled out of the Global Compact on Migration – a UN-sponsored initiative to improve the circumstances of migrants around the world.

The international labour movement issued an unprecedented statement condemning the nomination.

“The decision of the United States government to withdraw from the GCM process, coupled with the nomination of Ken Isaacs to head the IOM, is a clear indication that the US government shares no interest in the ambition described in the zero draft for a Global Compact on Migration that is ‘people-centered’, based on the ‘rule of law and due process’, anchored in ‘human rights’ and with an approach that supports ‘sustainable development’,” the statement said.

After The Washington Post sent examples of his social media posts to the State Department, Isaacs Twitter account was made private and the department provided a statement from Isaacs apologizing for his words.

“I deeply regret that my comments on social media have caused hurt and have undermined my professional record,” his statement read. It was careless and it has caused concern among those who have expressed faith in my ability to effectively lead IOM. I pledge to hold myself to the highest standards of humanity, human dignity and equality if chosen to lead the organisation,” the statement said.

The US State Department said it would continue to support the Isaacs’ nomination.

The 169-member IOM has a nearly $US1 billion annual operating budget and for decades has deferred to the United States, one of its top benefactors, to lead the organisation.

But observers say the Trump nominee could be at risk of being the first US-proposed candidate since the late 1960s to lose an election by the group’s voting members.

Laurie Nowell
AMES Australia Senior Journalist