Human Rights of Migrants

Watch a Freedom Files short on the conditions at the Hutto immigration detention center in Taylor, Texas >> Day laborers in Riverside, N.J. Learn more about Dr. Bustamante's stops during the visit >> See the full itinerary >> Dr. Jorge A. Bustamante Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants Christian Ramirez of the American Friends Service Committee (left) and Dr. Bustamante speak with day laborers in Rancho Penasquitos in San Diego. See more pictures from the Special Rapporteur's visit >>

United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants Visits U.S.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants, Dr. Jorge Bustamante, visited the United States to review the conditions of migrants and immigrants from April 30 through May 18.

UPDATE > Dr. Bustamante's report to the U.N. (3/7/2008) > Read the ACLU's statment to the Human Rights Council's 7th Session. (3/7/2008)

The American Civil Liberties Union was among the select organizations and individuals that met with the Special Rapporteur to testify about human rights violations of immigrants living in the United States. The Special Rapporteur's official visit included tours of the U.S.-Mexico border and an immigrant detention facility in Arizona.

Together with its affiliate offices and other organizations, the ACLU organized and facilitated public hearings and meetings for the Special Rapporteur with affected communities, victims and national and local authorities. The ACLU has worked recently on several issues pertaining to immigrants, including efforts around local anti-immigrant ordinances, immigrant detention facilities, undocumented migrant workers, and trafficking of women and children.

Dr. Bustamante is an independent expert appointed by the U.N. Human Rights Council with the mandate to monitor, advise and publicly report on human rights situations in specific countries, including the United States, and on human rights violations worldwide. The Special Rapporteur can only carry out a fact-finding mission at the request of the country concerned.

Read Dr. Bustamante's press statement at the conclusion of the visit >>

	Jamil Dakwar, Advocacy Director for the ACLU's Human Rights Program, talks about the Special Rapporteur's mandate and the significance of this visit to the human rights community. podcast | streaming
	Tom Jawetz, Immigration Detention Staff Attorney for the ACLU's National Prison Project, discusses the conditions of confinement inside the country's immigrant detention facilities. podcast | streaming
	Lucas Guttentag, Director of the Immigrants' Rights Project, discusses the ACLU's top concerns for the immigrant community, including anti-immigrant ordinances and post-9/11 changes to U.S. immigration policy. podcast | streaming
Read about Dr. Bustamante's visit at the ACLU Blog >>
PRESS RELEASES > International Human Rights Experts Denounce U.S. Record On Racial And Ethnic Discrimination (3/7/2008) > U.N. Independent Expert Denied Access to Hutto Detention Center (5/4/2007) > Federal Judge Rules Against Policy of Denying Marriage License on Basis of Immigration Status (5/1/2007) > U.N. Independent Expert on Rights of Migrants Begins Fact-Finding Mission in United States (4/30/2007) (en Español) > Civil Rights Groups Sue Immigration Officials for Unlawfully Detaining Six-Year-Old U.S. Citizen (4/26/2007) > ACLU Sues U.S. Immigration Officials and For-Profit Corrections Corporation Over Dangerous and Inhumane Housing of Detainees (1/24/2007) > Trafficking and Exploitation of Migrant Domestic Workers by Diplomats and Staff of International Organizations in the United States (1/17/2007) > Undocumented Workers Bring Plea for Non-Discrimination to Human Rights Body (11/1/2006) > ACLU Challenges Indefinite Detention in Southern California Facilities (10/9/2006) RESOURCES > Oral statement by Jennifer Turner on behalf of the ACLU to the Human Rights Council 7th Session (3/7/2008) ACLU WORK WITH MIGRANTS > Briefing Materials Submitted to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants by the Detention and Deportation Working Group > FAQs: United Nations Special Rapporteurs > Safe & Free: Seeking Truth and Accountability > Local Anti-Immigrant Ordinances > ACLU Challenges Prison-Like Conditions at Hutto Detention Center > Children Confined: Immigrant Detention at Hutto > About the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project OUTSIDE LINKS > The Special Rapporteur's United Nations Homepage > National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights > U.S. Human Rights Network (USHRN) > Detention Watch Network > National Immigration Justice Center (NIJC)          > NIJC's Briefing Papers to the Special Rapporteur PRESS > U.N. report criticizes U.S. treatment of migrants (Los Angeles Times) > U.N. official urges U.S. to protect migrant rights (International Herald Tribune) > U.N. Official Says He's Been Denied Access to U.S. Immigrant Jails (The New York Times) > U.N. official to meet former detainees after tour of Texas immigration facility canceled (International Herald Tribune) > U.N. Official Denied Access To Taylor Detention Center (KXAN.com)

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