What status does the the UDHR have in American law?

Question

Does it have any legal significance in the United States? Or was it more of a non-binding feel good type of thing?

Answer 1

The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights has no legal force or effect in American law. See, e.g., Barbara Macgrady, Note, Resort to International Human Rights Law in Challenging Conditions in U.S. Immigration Detention Centers, 23 BROOK. J. INT'L L. 271, 300 (1997) ("Since Congress has made its intent clear [by adopting NSE declarations], it is certain that the courts will not enforce these treaties in a domestic action.").

It is, at most, non-binding aspirational guidance to legislators.