A Coalition of civil society organisations from across Africa has formally petitioned the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), condemning the United States’ ongoing mass deportations of African immigrants and calling for an immediate halt to policies they say are in direct violation of international human rights instruments.
The petition, submitted to the 58th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, comes amid rising global concern over the treatment of immigrants and asylum-seekers by the United States government.
Since the beginning of 2025, the US has escalated its immigration enforcement operations, resulting in over 120,000 deportations in the first three months alone, according to statistics from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This marks a 42% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
A significant portion of those deported are of African descent, including individuals from Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Senegal many of whom have lived in the United States for years, built families, or held Temporary Protected Status (TPS) due to unsafe conditions in their home countries.
In a press conference held in Abuja on Thursday, the civil society coalition operating under the banner of Human Rights Monitors condemned the ongoing deportations as “forced and arbitrary,” accusing the US government of trampling on the rights of migrants and undermining global human rights frameworks.
The Human Rights Monitors platform is led by the Grassroots Center for Rights & Civic Orientation and includes organisations such as 21st Century Empowerment for Youth and Women, the Centre for Environmental Sustainability & Development Awareness (CESDA), the Socio-Economic Research & Development Centre (SERDEC), and the Centre for Peace Advocacy and Sustainable Development (CEPASD).
“We have seen families being torn apart, as parents are forcefully removed and placed in detention facilities. These actions violate the rights of asylum-seekers and migrants, while denying them the opportunity to ask for safety and security,” the coalition stated at the press conference, which took place at Grand Bahabs Hotel in Abuja’s Kado District.
Rising Deportations and Legal Breaches
The coalition’s statement detailed how recent US immigration actions appear to contravene multiple provisions of international law, including:
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- Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which declares that “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.”
- Article 33 of the 1951 Refugee Convention, which prohibits the expulsion or return of a refugee “in any manner whatsoever” to the frontiers of territories where their life or freedom would be threatened.
- Article 22 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which obligates States to ensure the protection of refugee children, including access to humanitarian assistance and asylum procedures.
- Article 23(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which recognises that “The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.”
The Explainer gathered that the recent spike in deportations is tied to new immigration enforcement guidelines rolled out under the current US administration, which include fast-track removals, increased home raids, and the expansion of immigration detention facilities.
Reports indicate that individuals under TPS such as Haitians, Salvadorans, Nicaraguans, Sudanese, Cameroonians and Venezuelans have also been affected, despite ongoing insecurity and humanitarian crises in their home countries. TPS is meant to shield foreign nationals from deportation if returning home would place them in harm’s way, due to armed conflict, natural disaster, or other extraordinary conditions.
Impact on African Families and Diaspora Communities
The coalition also drew attention to the profound emotional and socio-economic consequences of these deportations. According to their statement, many of those being deported have children who are American citizens by birth.
“The trauma inflicted on families particularly children is immeasurable. In several cases, minors are left in the care of relatives or placed in foster systems after their parents are abruptly taken away,” the group said.
In economic terms, the deportations threaten the vital lifeline of remittances flowing into African economies. According to the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerians in the US remitted over $6 billion to Nigeria in 2020 alone. Similar figures are reported across Ghana, Ethiopia and Kenya.
“Diaspora remittances fund education, health, housing and entrepreneurship across Africa. These mass deportations jeopardise financial stability in thousands of households and undermine development goals across the continent,” the coalition noted.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) previously estimated that remittances represent up to 20% of the GDP in some African nations, underscoring their developmental significance. The coalition warned that the consequences of breaking such economic chains are both immediate and long-term.
Calls to Action and UN Engagement
The Human Rights Monitors called on the United Nations Human Rights Council to:
Launch an independent inquiry into the United States’ immigration enforcement practices.
Issue a public condemnation of practices that violate the Refugee Convention and other human rights instruments.
Encourage member states, including African governments, to proactively support their citizens facing deportation abroad.
In a letter submitted to the UNHRC, the group urged the council to include the issue of forced deportations as part of its agenda for the 58th session. They also urged African states to use diplomatic channels to secure the protection of their nationals and to push for greater multilateral accountability.
“We call on the African Union to treat this as a continental priority,” the statement said, noting that the AU’s 2025 theme Year of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations should encompass current and historical injustices affecting African migrants globally.
Reframing Reparations and Responsibility
The coalition used the occasion to link forced deportations to broader historical and racial injustices. “There is no logical basis to argue against African reparations,” the group declared, citing centuries of transatlantic slavery, colonial exploitation, and modern-day discrimination against people of African descent.
The Explainer notes that the African Union has pledged to strengthen African diplomatic, legal, and civic mechanisms to seek reparatory justice. The Human Rights Monitors expressed support for this theme and pledged to mobilise grassroots campaigns across Africa to educate communities about their rights under international law.
“Reparations must go beyond compensation—they must include the right to migrate with dignity, the right to family unity, and the right to protection from racism, xenophobia, and arbitrary detention,” the coalition said.
Sovereignty and Human Rights: Not Mutually Exclusive
While acknowledging the United States’ sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws, the coalition emphasised that sovereignty cannot be used as an excuse for violating universally accepted human rights standards.
“No country, however powerful, is above international law. The rights of migrants are not conditional they are fundamental,” the statement read.
The press conference concluded with a call for solidarity among African civil society groups, human rights defenders, and international bodies to resist what they described as a growing tide of migrant criminalisation and border militarisation worldwide.
“We must act now to ensure that migration is managed with justice, not cruelty. The fight against forced and discriminatory deportations is a collective responsibility,” the Human Rights Monitors affirmed.
As deportation flights continue to leave American soil, many bound for African capitals, the message from the continent’s civic voices remains consistent: dignity is not a privilege it is a right.
