UN rights chief slams ‘routine abuse’ of migrants in US

“ARBITRARY VIOLENCE”

He warned that numerous US migration policies were resulting in arbitrary and unlawful arrests and detentions, as well as flawed removal decisions.

“Individuals are being surveilled and detained, sometimes violently, including at hospitals, churches, mosques, courthouses, markets, schools, and even within their own homes, often solely on mere suspicion of being undocumented migrants,” Turk said.

“Those who dare to speak up or protest peacefully against heavy-handed immigration raids are vilified and threatened by officials, and on occasion subjected to arbitrary violence themselves.”

He said many arrests, detentions, and expulsions occur without efforts to assess and maintain family unity, exposing especially children to risks of severe and long-term harm.

“I call on the administration to end practices that are tearing apart families,” he said.

“SCAPEGOATING TACTICS”

Turk acknowledged that “states have the authority to establish their national migration policies”, but “this needs to be carried out in full accordance with the law”.

He also expressed deep concern about the dehumanising narratives frequently used to describe migrants and refugees, especially in the United States, which had been shaped so “profoundly by the contributions of migrants”.

“Demonising migrants and refugees collectively as criminals, threats, or burdens on society – based on their origin, nationality or migration status – is inhuman, wrong, and it goes against the very fabric and foundations of the nation.”

Turk urged “leaders at all levels in the US to halt the use of scapegoating tactics that seek to distract and divide, and which increase the exposure of migrants and refugees to xenophobic hostility and abuse”.

The UN rights chief also called for an “independent and transparent investigation” into deaths in ICE custody.

At least 30 such deaths were reported last year, and a further six have been reported so far this year, he pointed out.