UN experts call for halt to Trump policy of migrant deportations
The UN experts also sent their communication to the governments of 35 countries.
A coalition of 13 United Nations human rights experts have written to the United States government, urging an immediate cessation of policies they claim are placing migrants at increased risk of abuse, including torture and persecution, through their deportation to non-native countries. Since last year, the Trump administration has entered multiple agreements with African governments to accept migrants it cannot legally repatriate to their home nations.
Many of those deported under the so-called third-country arrangements had previously been granted protection by US judges, who determined they would face abuses upon return.
The experts report that at least 23,000 third-country nationals have already been sent to 29 nations and territories. Human rights groups have expressed concerns over the potential for abuse in several of these countries, such as Equatorial Guinea, where police have been known to brandish firearms against migrants, and the Central African Republic, which is receiving Iranian deportees.
The communication stated, "The harms caused by this US Government scheme are no longer hypothetical," warning that they are triggering "a cascade of human rights violations." The experts highlighted that the most vulnerable populations—children, women, individuals with disabilities, trafficking victims, LGBT persons, stateless persons, and other highly vulnerable groups—are at the greatest risk. They provided no specific case details.
The US diplomatic mission to the United Nations in Geneva did not respond to a request for comment. The United States has defended the third-country arrangements as lawful and asserted that deportations comply with US immigration law. In a recent development, US President Donald Trump requested the US Supreme Court to permit his administration to maintain the policy after lower courts deemed it unlawful.
The UN experts also addressed their communication to the governments of 35 countries and territories that have entered into agreements with Washington to receive deported individuals. UN experts, commissioned by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council to monitor and document specific human rights crises, operate independently from the organization.
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