Greek authorities continue to conduct illegal pushbacks at the country’s land and sea borders, according to a recent report from the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights. Noting ongoing allegations of systematic summary returns, despite the European Court of Human Rights’ condemnation of the practice in January this year, the Commissioner urges Greek authorities to “adopt a zero-tolerance approach” to summary returns and to ensure impartial investigations of allegations. […]
Detention Blog
Libya: The Latest Target of the Rapidly Growing U.S. Deportation Scheme
This week, Reuters reported that the Trump administration plans to deport migrants to Libya–a country long criticised by the U.S and the wider international community for its abusive treatment of migrants and asylum seekers. Just in February, investigators uncovered two mass graves in the southeast of the country containing the bodies of dozens of migrants, some bearing evidence of gunshot wounds. […]
Yemen: US Airstrike Kills Dozens of Migrants at Detention Centre
In the early hours of Monday 28 April, a US airstrike is reported to have struck a detention facility in Yemen’s northern Sa’ada Governorate, killing dozens of migrants confined in the building. This is not the first time that a detention centre holding migrants has been struck in Yemen: another facility within the same compound was struck in 2022 leaving more than 90 dead. […]
Guest Opinion: “Cruelty Is Not My Flag: Contesting Arbitrary Detention and Deportations from the Dominican Republic”
In its latest efforts to remove Haitian migrants, authorities in the Dominican Republic have introduced a slate of new immigration control measures–amongst them a new protocol requiring the presence of immigration officers in hospital maternity wards and for women without paperwork to be deported immediately. This latest cruel and misogynistic policy further deepens migrant women’s vulnerabilities, increasing the obstacles they face in accessing vital public health services. […]
Russia: Weaponising Immigration Policies to Push Migrants into War and Launching a New “Expulsion Regime”
Russia is ramping up immigration enforcement to pressure migrants to join the frontline in Ukraine and increase deportations of people from various Asian countries. As part of the Kremlin’s efforts to bolster military strength, foreigners continue to be coerced into fighting in Ukraine–with many being threatened with deportation should they refuse to fight. And since […]
United States and El Salvador: A Scheme to Deport Migrants from the US to a “Human Rights Black Hole”
On 7 April, the US Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration could continue deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador’s “supermax” CECOT prison, referred to by observers as a “human rights black hole.” In March, more than 260 people were deported and placed in the facility under the US’s controversial agreement with El […]
Poland: Blocking Access to Asylum, Violating Human Rights on the Border
On 26 March, Poland’s President Duda signed into law a controversial bill allowing authorities to temporarily suspend access to asylum. The bill, which has been subject to extensive criticism, comes as rights groups have reported ongoing abuses of migrants and refugees at the country’s border with Belarus. […]
Panama: A “Bridge” Serving Trump’s Sweeping Deportation Plans
The US has deported hundreds of people to countries like Panama, Costa Rica, and El Salvador as part of the Trump administration’s plan to deport “millions.” On arrival in Panama, deportees have been detained in several ad hoc facilities where reports highlight a serious disregard for fundamental human rights. […]
“Out of Sight and Out of Mind”: Norway’s Failure to Reform its Treatment of Immigration Detainees
Norway’s immigration detention Supervisory Board has criticised practices at the country’s Trandum Immigration Detention Centre. In its Annual Report, the board says that although there have been important changes—including shifting medical care from the private to the public sector—numerous abusive immigration detention practices persist, including “prison-like” operations at Trandum, obliging detainees to meet officials from […]
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Treatment of Immigration Detainees Examined at the UPR
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s treatment of migrants and asylum seekers was scrutinised during its review at the UN Universal Periodic Review in January. The GDP, Border Violence Monitoring Network, and Collective Aid submitted evidence to the UPR detailing concerns regarding Bosnia’s treatment of non-nationals. Key detention-related issues raised in the submission are reflected in member state recommendations, including […]
