“US immigration authorities must ensure that their detention facilities comply with international human rights norms and standards,”
NEW YORK:- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Friday called for strong independent oversight of the United States immigration detention system and for investigations into all deaths in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody.
“Those responsible for violations of the law must be held accountable, and the rights of victims’ families to truth, justice and reparation, and guarantees of non-repetition, must be upheld,” Turk said in a statement.
It comes as 18 people have died in ICE custody in the first five months of this year, compared with eight in the same period last year, according to ICE data. The US agency reported another death on June 4, bringing the current total for the year to 19. In 2025, 33 people died in ICE custody, up from 11 in 2024.
There have been “allegations of alarming use of force” in U.S. immigration detention facilities, and five officially reported deaths in 2026 were classified as suicides, Turk wrote.
ICE currently holds more than 60,000 people, and plans to increase its detention capacity to 90,000 by the end of the year, he said.
Turk also drew attention to the lack of transparency about the circumstances of deaths in ICE custody and the whereabouts of detainees during transfers.
He also noted that prolonged uncertainty about legal status contributes to psychological distress.
Detainees are frequently reported to face “inhumane conditions” in ICE detention, including inadequate health care and food, and exposure to diseases.
Turk expressed concern about the reported use of solitary confinement. He said that prolonged or indefinite use of solitary confinement could constitute “cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment,” which violates international human rights law.
“All of these factors increase the risk and raise serious concerns about whether some of these deaths in ICE custody could have been prevented,” the UN rights chief said.
Turk urged the US government to prioritize alternatives to immigration detention, especially for pregnant women and those with significant medical or mental health conditions. He said children should never be subject to immigration detention, regardless of the immigration status of the child or parents.
“US immigration authorities must ensure that their detention facilities comply with international human rights norms and standards,” he said, which includes protecting the human rights of detainees by ensuring humane conditions, timely health care, family information, an end to overcrowding, and access to legal representation, consular assistance, and interpretation services.
Turk stressed the important role of the United States Congress in overseeing detention conditions and related public funds to ensure compliance with international human rights law.
The UN rights chief condemned the continued dehumanization and criminalization of migrants and refugees.
He also expressed support for those advocating for their human rights, including lawyers, journalists, religious organizations and civil society groups.
“No one should be returned to a place where they could face serious human rights violations or other irreversible harm,” Turk said.