The UN Human Rights Council delivered a forceful statement from Geneva criticizing systemic abuses in America’s immigration enforcement system. Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stressed the urgent need to uphold human dignity and fair procedures for all migrants and asylum seekers.
According to reports, detainees often face barriers to legal aid and appeals against detention or removal. Türk pressed US authorities to overhaul policies ensuring compliance with global human rights norms.
A rising toll of deaths in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities has alarmed experts. Last year saw no fewer than 30 fatalities, with six additional cases this year prompting demands for thorough, impartial probes.
Flashpoints in Minneapolis highlight the perils. An ICE officer shot dead a US citizen aged 37 during a January 7 raid. Days later, another shooting claimed the life of a Venezuelan immigrant, fueling widespread anger.
Climaxing the unrest, nearly 100 religious leaders faced arrest at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. Faith in Minnesota activists blockaded Terminal 1 roads, protesting airline complicity in ICE operations targeting Delta and Signature Aviation.
Participants prayed collectively, chanted spiritual songs, and disclosed that 2,000 deportees had passed through the hub. They also noted 12 staff detentions by ICE, underscoring ethical dilemmas in aviation’s role in enforcement.
