United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has called for urgent and independent investigations into a sharp rise in deaths in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, warning that a lack of transparency and accountability risks undermining public trust and may be obscuring preventable fatalities within the detention system.
Türk expressed deep concern over official data showing that 18 people died in ICE detention in the first five months of this year alone, with an additional death reported later this month.
The figures mark a significant increase compared with previous years, including 33 deaths recorded in 2025, up from 11 in 2024, highlighting what the UN describes as a worrying upward trend in fatalities within immigration detention facilities.
He stressed that the lack of clarity surrounding the circumstances of these deaths raises serious questions about accountability and oversight in a system that has expanded rapidly in recent years.
“The lack of transparency and clarity surrounding the circumstances of these deaths in custody undermines accountability for them.”
Volker Türk
Türk further emphasised that “those responsible for violations of the law must be held to account, and the rights of the victims’ families to truth, justice and reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence must be upheld.”
According to the latest official data cited by the UN human rights office, ICE is currently holding over 60,000 individuals, compared with around 40,000 in early 2025. Authorities have also indicated plans to increase detention capacity further, potentially reaching 90,000 detainees by the end of 2026.
Human rights advocates and UN officials warn that this rapid expansion is occurring alongside persistent reports of overcrowding, inadequate medical care and deteriorating conditions in detention facilities. Detainees are said to include families with children, as well as individuals with serious medical and mental health vulnerabilities.
According to reports highlighted by the UN, detainees have faced inhumane conditions, including insufficient access to healthcare, poor nutrition, and exposure to disease outbreaks in overcrowded centres. There have also been allegations of excessive use of force by authorities in certain facilities.
Particularly concerning to the UN is the reported use of solitary confinement, which Türk said should only be used in exceptional circumstances. When prolonged or indefinite, he warned, such practices could amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
“All these factors exacerbate vulnerability and raise serious concerns as to whether some of these deaths in ICE custody could have been prevented.”
Volker Türk
Among the deaths reported in 2026, five have been classified as suicides, further intensifying scrutiny over mental health support and safeguarding measures within detention centres.
The UN High Commissioner also drew attention to additional systemic concerns, including a lack of information provided to families about the whereabouts of detainees during transfers. This, he said, has caused significant distress and uncertainty among relatives, particularly when combined with prolonged delays in legal proceedings and unclear immigration status decisions.
Türk urged U.S. authorities to prioritise alternatives to detention, stressing that immigration detention should only be used as a last resort. He stated it should generally be avoided for vulnerable groups, including individuals with serious medical or mental health conditions, and pregnant women.
He also reaffirmed that children, regardless of their or their parents’ immigration status, should not be placed in immigration detention.
According to him, US immigration authorities are required to make sure that all detention facilities adhere to international human rights standards, which include providing sufficient medical care, humane living conditions, access to legal counsel, family notification systems, consular support, and interpreting services.
UN Human Rights Chief Urges Restoration of Oversight
Alongside concerns over deaths in custody, Türk called for the restoration and strengthening of independent oversight mechanisms for immigration detention, arguing that external monitoring is essential to preventing abuse and ensuring accountability within the system.
He also highlighted the role of Congressional oversight in reviewing immigration enforcement practices and associated public funding, saying that stronger scrutiny would help ensure compliance with international human rights obligations.
“The full restoration and strengthening of independent oversight mechanisms for immigration detention is essential.”
Volker Türk
The High Commissioner further criticised the continued dehumanisation and criminalisation of migrants and refugees, warning that such narratives risk undermining fundamental human rights protections.
At the same time, he expressed support for civil society actors, including lawyers, journalists, religious organisations and advocacy groups, who continue to call for dignity, fairness and due process in immigration systems.
Türk also reiterated a core principle of international law: that no individual should be returned to a country where they may face torture, persecution or other serious human rights violations.
READ ALSO: Ghana to Shift to Onshore Drilling by End of 2026
