US-China AI Relations

US refuses to work with newly appointed UNHCR deputy head

• Reuters reports the Trump administration is refusing to work with the newly appointed deputy head of the United Nations refugee agency.
• Tressa Rae Finerty, an American who took up the deputy high commissioner role at UNHCR earlier this month, has taken leave as she seeks a US government waiver.
• Seven diplomatic sources told Reuters the State Department is withholding cooperation with Finerty.
• Several of the diplomats described the treatment as a retaliatory response after UNHCR opted against Washington's preferred candidate, Simon Hankinson.
• A State Department spokesperson said it could not comment on pending legal issues but said the US works with UNHCR "when doing so advances US foreign policy interests."