Title: UN Demands Answers After 23 Die in US Immigration Custody in 2026

**Article:** The United Nations’ top human rights official on Monday called for “accountability” following a sharp rise in deaths of migrants held by US authorities, and urged Washington to stop deporting people to countries where they could face “irreparable harm.” Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that “four more people have died in US immigration custody since my last update to this council” in June. That brings the total to “23 deaths in 2026 alone,” he said. Turk stressed that “there needs to be a full, transparent investigation” into each case, and that those responsible for any wrongdoing must be held to account. Turk did not provide details on the causes of death or the nationalities of those who died. However, he warned that current US policies, including rapid deportations, put vulnerable people at risk. He specifically called on Washington to halt removals to nations where returnees face persecution, torture, or death. “No one should be sent back to a place where their life or freedom would be threatened,” Turk added. He said the UN stands ready to assist US authorities in reviewing detention and deportation procedures to ensure they meet international human rights standards. The United States has not yet publicly responded to Turk’s remarks. The UN Human Rights Council session continues this week in Geneva.