Geneva: The United Nations’ top rights official on Monday called for accountability after a rising number of people died while held in US immigration custody, urging Washington to stop sending individuals back to countries where they could suffer “irreparable harm”.
Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said four more deaths had been recorded since June, bringing the total to 23 in 2026 alone. Speaking at the opening of the UN Human Rights Council’s session in Geneva, he described the figures as deeply troubling and demanded answers from US authorities, according to Arab News.
“There needs to be accountability for these deaths,” Turk told delegates, adding that deportations must be suspended where there is a real risk of serious, lasting harm to those returned. His remarks come amid growing international scrutiny of US immigration enforcement practices and detention conditions.
The UN chief’s comments highlight concerns over transparency, oversight, and the treatment of migrants in American custody. Rights groups have long warned that overcrowding, inadequate medical care, and prolonged detention can endanger lives. Turk’s appeal adds pressure on Washington to explain what went wrong and how future deaths might be prevented.
As the global human rights body convenes, the issue underscores a widening gap between migration control policies and fundamental rights protections. For families and advocates, each death represents not just a statistic but a life lost in a system meant to process, not punish.
