UN rights chief calls for investigations into US deaths in immigration custody
The UN rights chief cited 19 deaths this year and urged authorities to protect detainees as reports of poor conditions and suicides increased.
- Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, called for independent investigations into at least 52 deaths in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody since early 2025 and urged immediate measures to prevent further fatalities.
- Human Rights Watch reported that the mortality rate in ICE custody has reached its highest level in over a decade, surpassing rates under both the first Trump administration and the Biden administration.
- Physicians for Human Rights found that the government failed to publicly disclose adequate information about the circumstances of deaths or medical treatment in the 39 cases it reviewed, hindering independent assessments.
- Türk expressed concern about the use of solitary confinement and force in detention centers, noting five 2026 deaths were suicides and emphasizing the need to protect detainees' right to life and provide adequate medical care.
19 Articles
19 Articles
UN rights chief calls for investigations into deaths in US ICE custody
GENEVA/WASHINGTON, June 26 - The United Nations human rights chief on Friday called for independent investigations into deaths of people under ICE custody, raising the alarm that 18 people had died in ICE detention in the first five months of this year. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Times of India
The Economic TimesUN seeks independent investigation into ICE detention deaths
The UN is demanding independent probes into dozens of deaths in US immigration detention since last year, citing a surge in fatalities under President Trump's crackdown. UN rights chief Volker Turk called for "prompt action to prevent further loss of life," highlighting a lack of transparency and urging accountability for violations. He stressed that immigration detention should be a last resort, especially for children.
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