UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for stronger independent oversight of the United States immigration detention system and investigations into all deaths in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. The call follows reports of 19 deaths in ICE detention in 2026, including an additional death on June 4, 2026, which brought the year's total to 19.

Eighteen people had died while in ICE detention in the first five months of 2026. This figure compares to eight deaths in the first five months of 2025. In 2025, 33 people died in ICE custody, following 11 deaths in 2024. Türk said that five of the officially reported deaths in 2026 were classified as suicides. He stated that ICE currently holds more than 60,000 people in detention, with plans to increase capacity to 90,000 people by the end of 2026.

Türk expressed alarm over the reported use of solitary confinement in ICE detention. "Prolonged or indefinite use of solitary confinement could amount to 'cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment', which violates international human rights laws," Türk said. He wrote about concerning allegations regarding the use of force in US immigration detention facilities and called attention to the lack of transparency surrounding the circumstances of deaths and the whereabouts of detainees during transfers.

Türk noted that prolonged uncertainty regarding legal status contributes to psychological distress. He stated that detainees frequently face conditions including inadequate healthcare and food, and exposure to diseases. "All these factors exacerbate vulnerability and raise serious concerns as to whether some of these deaths in ICE custody could have been prevented," Türk said.

Türk urged the US Government to prioritize alternatives to immigration detention, especially for pregnant women and those with medical or mental health conditions. He maintained that children should never be subject to immigration detention, regardless of their or their parents' immigration status. He stated that authorities must protect the human rights of detainees by ensuring humane conditions, timely healthcare, family notification, an end to overcrowding, and access to legal representation, consular assistance, and interpretation services.

Türk stressed the United States Congress's role in overseeing detention conditions and associated public funding to ensure compliance with international human rights law. He also expressed support for those advocating for human rights, including lawyers, journalists, faith-based organizations, and civil society groups.