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
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 […]
Ireland: Growing Crackdown on Immigration and Asylum
Facing increasing pressures on its shared border with Northern Ireland and sharply rising asylum requests, Ireland has ramped up border controls and deportations. Growing Crackdown on Immigration in Ireland and Northern Ireland Recent reports reveal increasing immigration restrictions in Ireland, following a spike in irregular arrivals from the UK via Northern Ireland. According to the […]
Guest Opinion: “The Dominican Republic Must End Collective Deportations of Haitians”
Guest Post by Bridget Wooding (OBMICA) On 2 October, the Dominican Republic’s Migration Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior and Police announced an upscaled operation “to deport 10,000 Haitians each week.” This decision had been taken by the Defence and National Security Council, headed up by President Luis Abinader. According to the Council’s directive, […]
Croatia: Brutality on the Border, Expanding Detention Regime
Croatia’s brutal treatment and pushbacks of migrants and asylum seekers along its border with Bosnia and Herzegovina has been widely documented for several years, with the most recent reports revealing systematic destruction of migrants’ belongings, including cell phones and identity papers. The country has also expanded its immigration enforcement infrastructure with the opening in late 2023 of a […]
