GENEVA — The United Nations' top human rights official has demanded accountability for the rising number of deaths in US immigration detention, calling on Washington to suspend deportations to countries where migrants could face serious danger.
Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council on Monday, Volker Türk said that four more people had died in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody since his last update to the council in June, bringing the total to 23 deaths in 2026 alone. “There needs to be accountability for these deaths,” he insisted.
The deaths come amid a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration ordered by President Donald Trump in his second term. Authorities have detained thousands of people and expanded detention facilities across the country, often in remote locations with limited oversight.
A joint report published in June by Human Rights Watch and Physicians for Human Rights found that the death rate in ICE custody had reached its highest level in over a decade. The report documented cases of inadequate medical care, delayed emergency response, and harsh conditions that contributed to fatalities.
Deportations to unsafe destinations
Türk also criticised other US enforcement practices, including forcing migrants to return to countries where they face persecution or violence, and sending them to third countries with which they have no connection. He specifically urged the United States to halt removals to Haiti, where instability and gang violence have made return dangerous.
“I urge the United States to halt the return of people to places where they could suffer irreparable harm, including Haiti, and to ensure due process for all removals to third countries,” he told the council.
The UN rights chief also voiced alarm over reported plans by ICE to equip its agents with electric shock gloves, a move first reported by the Associated Press. The Department of Homeland Security, ICE's parent agency, is reportedly planning to spend between $10 and $20 million (€8–17 million) on these devices, described as “distraction and de-escalation” tools. Türk warned that such equipment would “increase the violence associated with their operations.”
ICE has faced scrutiny over a series of fatal shootings during enforcement actions, including the deaths of two American citizens in Minnesota in January who were involved in anti-ICE protests. Those incidents have fueled criticism that the agency's tactics are overly aggressive and poorly regulated.
The situation has drawn attention beyond the United States, as European governments and human rights organisations monitor the treatment of migrants and asylum seekers. The UN's call for accountability echoes concerns raised by groups like Amnesty International and the European Council on Refugees and Exiles, which have long urged the US to align its immigration policies with international human rights standards.
While the US is not a member of the UN Human Rights Council, it participates as an observer, and Türk's remarks carry symbolic weight. His predecessor, Michelle Bachelet, also criticised US immigration policies during her tenure, but Monday's statement is one of the most direct condemnations of the Trump administration's approach.
The Trump administration has defended its policies, arguing that strict enforcement is necessary to deter illegal immigration and protect national security. However, human rights advocates say the rising death toll and the use of potentially lethal equipment indicate a systemic failure to safeguard the lives of those in custody.
As the debate continues, the UN's call for accountability adds pressure on Washington to investigate the deaths and implement reforms. Whether the administration will respond remains uncertain, but the international community is watching closely.
