UN experts urge Trump to halt third-country deportations, citing 23,000 cases
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More than a dozen UN human rights experts have urged the Trump administration to halt deporting migrants to third countries, warning the practice exposes vulnerable people to torture and persecution. The experts said at least 23,000 third-country nationals have been deported to 29 countries and territories under US arrangements. The communication was also sent to 35 governments that have agreements with Washington to accept deportees.
Key Facts
- UN experts said at least 23,000 third-country nationals have been deported to 29 countries and territories under US arrangements.
- The experts warned that some deportees had previously received protection from US judges who determined they could face abuse if returned to their countries of origin.
- The communication was sent to the US government and to governments of 35 countries and territories that have agreements with Washington to accept deported migrants.
- The UN experts are independent specialists appointed by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, not employees of the UN itself.
UN Communication
More than a dozen UN human rights experts urged the Trump administration to halt its policy of deporting migrants to countries other than their own. The experts said the policy is exposing vulnerable people to a heightened risk of torture, persecution and other abuses. They warned that the policy was triggering a 'cascade of human rights violations'. The communication was also sent to governments of 35 countries and territories that the experts said had entered agreements with Washington to accept deported migrants.
Deportation Arrangements
The Trump administration has reached agreements with several African governments and other countries to accept migrants whom the US cannot legally return to their home countries. Rights groups have raised concerns over conditions in some of the countries receiving deportees. In Equatorial Guinea, police reportedly pulled firearms on migrants, while the Central African Republic has been receiving Iranian deportees. The UN experts said children, women, people with disabilities, trafficking victims, LGBT people, human rights defenders and stateless persons were among those facing the gravest risks.
US Response
The US diplomatic mission to the UN in Geneva did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Washington has previously defended the third-country deportation arrangements as lawful, maintaining that deportations are carried out in accordance with US immigration law. US President Donald Trump has asked the US Supreme Court to allow his administration to continue the policy after lower courts ruled that it was unlawful.
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