UN rights chief urges US to halt Haiti deportations, investigate 23 migrant deaths

The United Nations’ top human rights official has called on the United States to halt deportations to Haiti and investigate the deaths of at least 23 migrants in U.S. immigration custody since the beginning of 2026.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk raised concerns about U.S. immigration enforcement practices on Monday during the opening of a session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, calling for greater scrutiny of detention conditions and accountability for deaths in custody.

Türk urged U.S. authorities to conduct thorough investigations into each of the deaths and provide answers to the victims’ families.

He also raised concerns about migrants being returned to countries where they could face serious danger, specifically citing Haiti, which continues to grapple with widespread gang violence, displacement and a humanitarian crisis.

“I urge the United States to halt the return of people to places where they could suffer irreparable harm, including Haiti, and to ensure due process for all removals to third countries,” Türk told the council.

His comments come as the United States expands immigration enforcement measures, including arrangements to transfer some deportees to third countries with which they may have no previous connection.

Türk stressed that deportations must comply with international human rights protections and that migrants should not be returned to countries where they face the risk of irreparable harm.

The UN rights chief also expressed alarm over reported plans by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to equip immigration agents with electric shock gloves.

Türk warned that introducing the devices could “increase the violence associated with their operations.”

His remarks add to international scrutiny of U.S. immigration policies, particularly the treatment of migrants in detention, the use of force during immigration enforcement operations and the transfer of deportees to third countries.

The call to suspend deportations to Haiti comes as the Caribbean nation remains engulfed in a prolonged security crisis that has forced large numbers of people from their homes and severely disrupted access to essential services.

The UN has repeatedly warned about the risks associated with returning people to Haiti amid the deteriorating security and humanitarian conditions.

Türk’s appeal also underscores the principle that governments should not return people to countries where they face serious threats to their lives, safety or fundamental rights.