UN rights chief calls for probe into migrant deaths in US detention centres

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has called for an independent investigation into a significant increase in migrant deaths within US detention centers during Donald Trump's second term. At least 19 deaths have occurred this year, with the mortality rate in ICE custody reportedly at its highest in over a decade and more than double that of the start of Trump's second term. Rights groups attribute this surge to systematic neglect, inhumane conditions, and abuses, as the administration expanded detention facilities for mass deportations. Turk emphasized the need for accountability for violations and for victims' families to receive truth, justice, and reparations.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has called for prompt, independent, and impartial investigations into deaths occurring in US immigration custody. This appeal follows reports of a surge in deaths within Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, including suicides, under the Trump administration. The Department of Homeland Security's watchdog office is launching its own investigations into these deaths and the use of force against detainees, citing an increase in fatalities since fiscal year 2022. Human Rights Watch and UCLA Law Behind Bars data project reports indicate mortality in ICE custody is at its highest level in over a decade. Türk also expressed concern over the use of solitary confinement in ICE detention centers, which he stated can exacerbate vulnerability and potentially lead to preventable deaths.