UN rights chief calls for investigations into deaths in US ICEdeaths in US ICE custody
The United Nations human rights chief called for independent investigations into 18 deaths of people in U.S. ICE custody in the first five months of 2026, raising alarms about the high mortality rate in detention centers.
The UN official specifically highlighted the death of a Georgian man, Mamuka Artmeladze, in a detention center, while the Trump administration defended its high arrest rates by ICE and CBP.
This matters as it exposes potential human rights violations in U.S. immigration detention and could lead to international pressure for policy reforms.
UN human rights chief
UN human rights chief called for independent investigations into 18 migrant deaths in ICE detention, raising alarms about the high mortality rate in the first five months of 2026.
Trump
Trump stated on social media that his administration has the highest average daily arrest rate by ICE and CBP, including total detention and final orders of removal, than any other president, justifying the deaths as part of a tough enforcement operation.
- Georgia, the country of the deceased man, borders Russia, Turkey, and Iran in the Caucasus region.
- The U.S. has over 100 detention centers for migrants, with ICE managing the majority of them.
- The UN human rights chief has previously called for investigations into deaths in other U.S. detention facilities, including those for asylum seekers.
