The United Nations is alarmed by the number of deaths in US immigration custody.
June 26, 2026, 1:57 p.mJune 26, 2026, 1:57 p.m
He called for “immediate, independent, impartial and effective investigations into all deaths in ICE custody,” said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk. Those responsible must be held accountable.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk.Image: keystone
In the first five months of the year, 18 people died in the authority’s custody, Türk referred to official figures from the US authority. In the previous year there were a total of 33, and in 2024 11 people died. Türk criticized the lack of transparency regarding the respective circumstances.
Detention capacities for 90,000 people planned
These deaths occurred amid a massive expansion of the U.S. immigration detention system, it said. According to current official data, ICE is currently holding more than 60,000 people, compared to around 40,000 at the beginning of 2025. There are plans to increase detention capacity to up to 90,000 places by the end of 2026, according to the UN human rights office OHCHR.
Türk: Deaths possibly preventable
The UN High Commissioner also expressed concern about reports of the use of solitary confinement, which, if used for prolonged periods, could amount to cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment. “All of these factors exacerbate vulnerability and raise serious concerns about whether some of these deaths in ICE custody could have been prevented,” Turk said.
The controversial migration agency ICE has been in focus for months. US President Donald Trump is pursuing a rigorous deportation policy in his second term in office. This also includes raids by ICE officers, some of whom are masked, against migrants in predominantly Democratic cities. (hkl/sda/dpa)