The United Nations has raised concern over a surge in deportations from the United States, particularly targeting non-nationals sent to third countries such as El Salvador.
According to Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the handling of these deportations could violate international human rights obligations and expose individuals to serious harm.
Data from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) indicates that 142,000 people were deported from the US between January 20 and April 29. While many were returned to their countries of origin, over 100 Venezuelans were reportedly transferred to El Salvador, where they are believed to be imprisoned in the infamous Centre for Terrorism Confinement (CECOT).
CECOT, a maximum-security facility in El Salvador, is notorious for its austere conditions. Detainees there face extreme restrictions, including no access to lawyers or communication with their families. Human rights advocates have voiced growing concerns about the welfare of the detainees, many of whom were removed from the US under the Alien Enemies Act and labeled as suspected members of criminal gangs.
OHCHR says the precise whereabouts of at least 245 Venezuelans and around 30 Salvadorans remain unclear. Reports suggest these individuals were flown to El Salvador without being informed of the destination or granted the opportunity to legally challenge their removal.
“This situation raises serious concerns regarding a wide array of rights that are fundamental to both US and international law,” Türk stated. He underscored that these rights include due process, freedom from arbitrary detention, equal protection under the law, and protection from torture or irreparable harm.
The absence of official detainee lists from either the US or Salvadoran authorities further complicates the matter. Families of those deported told OHCHR they were left in the dark about the fate of their loved ones. In several cases, family members only realized what had happened after spotting relatives in videos circulating online, showing prisoners in CECOT.
“Families we have spoken to have expressed a sense of complete powerlessness in the face of what has happened and their pain at seeing their relatives labelled and handled as violent criminals, even terrorists, without any court judgment as to validity of what is claimed against them.”
Volker Türk
The High Commissioner added that the treatment of deportees, including the use of shackles during transportation and inflammatory language used against them, was “profoundly disturbing.”
Deportees Denied Legal Counsel
OHCHR reports that many deportees had no legal counsel during the process, no chance to contest their deportation, and were denied knowledge of the US government’s plans to send them to a third country — raising deep ethical and legal questions.
Despite the severity of the situation, Türk acknowledged the important role being played by the US judiciary, civil society, and the legal community in advocating for affected individuals. He stressed the need for immediate action to prevent further violations.
“I have called on the US Government to take the necessary measures to ensure compliance with due process, to give prompt and full effect to the determinations of its courts, to safeguard the rights of children, and to stop the removal of any individual to any country where there is a real risk of torture or other irreparable harm.”
Volker Türk
As the international community watches closely, the case raises urgent questions about the accountability of powerful nations when it comes to protecting the rights of vulnerable migrants.
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