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 […]
Detention Blog
Jamaica: Oral Presentation to the UN Committee on Migrant Workers
“In our monitoring of the country, we have documented various concerning reports of arbitrary detention of migrants and asylum seekers in deplorable conditions, including in prisons.” […]
Niger: Oral Presentation to the UN Committee on Migrant Workers
In its response to the CMW’s List of Issues, Niger fails to adequately address several issues concerning Articles 16-22, while also confirming practices which specifically violate the Convention. […]
Mexico: Oral Presentation to the UN Committee on Migrant Workers
Mexico has used immigration detention measures on a scale that may be unique in the world, placing hundreds of thousands of at-risk people in often deplorable facilities. […]
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 […]
Deplorable Conditions in Italian Detention Centres Cast Further Doubts on Italy-Albania Migration Protocol
A recent report from the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) reveals the deplorable conditions in Italy’s pre-removal centres. The rights body highlights both the disrespect of detainees fundamental rights, as well as abysmal detention conditions, and raises concerns regarding Italy’s detention deal with Albania. The CPT’s Report on its Visit to […]
Egypt: Growing Calls to End Harmful Treatment of Refugees
Despite the spiralling war in nearby Sudan—where reports of massacres and widespread starvation have grabbed global attention—Egypt remains poised to adopt a new asylum law that will threaten access to protection for those fleeing the conflict. The law will also allow for arbitrary detention and refoulement based on migration status and without full consideration of […]
