The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has expressed concern over what he described as the growing dehumanisation of migrants in the United States, warning that current immigration enforcement practices are undermining due process, family unity and basic human dignity.
In a statement, Türk said individuals suspected of being undocumented migrants are being surveilled, arrested and detained, sometimes violently, in locations including hospitals, places of worship, courthouses, schools, markets and private homes.
The UN rights chief said he was “astounded by the now-routine abuse and denigration of migrants and refugees,” noting that fear generated by federal enforcement operations is spreading through communities.
According to him, children are missing school and medical appointments due to concerns that their parents may not return home following immigration raids.
Türk also alleged that individuals who protest peacefully against what he described as heavy-handed immigration operations are often vilified, threatened by officials and, in some cases, subjected to arbitrary violence.
He said several migration policies currently being implemented by U.S. authorities have resulted in arbitrary and unlawful arrests and detentions, as well as flawed removal decisions, adding that many enforcement actions lack sufficient individualised assessments.
Immigration enforcement in the United States is largely carried out by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a federal agency responsible for identifying, arresting, detaining and removing non-citizens deemed to be in violation of immigration laws.
While acknowledging that national governments have the authority to establish and enforce migration policies, Türk stressed that such powers must be exercised in full compliance with the law.
He warned that failure to respect due process could erode public trust, weaken institutional legitimacy and lead to violations of fundamental human rights.
Türk also criticised the use of large-scale enforcement operations, expressing concern that force has at times appeared unnecessary or disproportionate.
He referenced an incident on January 7, 2026, when a woman was fatally shot in Minneapolis during an operation involving federal officers.
“Under international law, the intentional use of lethal force is only permissible as a measure of last resort against an individual representing an imminent threat to life,” he said.
The UN rights chief further highlighted the impact of immigration enforcement on families, citing cases where parents were detained or transferred between facilities without adequate information on their whereabouts or access to legal counsel.
Such practices, he said, make it difficult for families to maintain contact or pursue legal remedies.
“I call on the administration to end practices that are tearing apart families,” Türk said.
He also called for independent and transparent investigations into a reported increase in deaths in ICE custody, noting that at least 30 deaths were recorded in 2025, with six more reported so far in 2026.