UN urges U.S. to halt deportations to countries where migrants could face danger as custody deaths reach 23

The United Nations has urged the United States to stop sending migrants to countries where they could face “irreparable harm,” including Haiti, and to guarantee a fair legal process for removals to third countries.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk made the appeal at the opening of the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. He said four additional migrants had died in U.S. immigration custody since his previous presentation on the issue at the end of June.

The new deaths bring the number of migrants who have died in U.S. custody during 2026 to 23, Türk said. He called for legal responsibility to be established for those deaths.

Türk also criticized plans to equip U.S. immigration agents with gloves capable of administering electric shocks. He said the measure could increase violence during immigration operations.

The warning comes amid growing concern within UN bodies about U.S. expulsions to third countries, particularly when those countries do not provide sufficient safety guarantees. UN officials have also raised concerns about migrants’ difficulty challenging their deportations before they take place.

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may suffer irreparable harm