Text of a Press Conference by Human Rights Monitors, a coalition of civil society organizations held on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at the Grand Bohabs Hotel, Ahmadu Bello Way, Kado District, FCT Abuja.
Esteemed and ever supportive friends in the Press, civil society organizations, distinguished invited guests, ladies and gentlemen.
Introduction
Human Rights Monitors (HRM), a coalition of civil society organizations is pleased to welcome you to this Press Conference. The current organizations in the coalition are: Grassroots Center for Rights & Civic Orientation (Convener and Secretariat), 21st Century Empowerment for Youth and Women, a frontline NGO with United Nations ECOSOC consultative status, the Centre for Environmental Sustainability & Development Awareness (CESDA), Socio-Economic Research & Development Centre and the Centre for Peace Advocacy and Sustainable Development (CESPAD). The purpose of the coalition is to galvanise efforts and engagements for the promotion, protection and fulfilment of the fundamental human rights and the dignity of Nigerians, Africans and the African Diaspora.
This Press Conference is part of our collective resolve to spotlight critical issues of human rights governance in Nigeria, Africa and across the world. As the maxim goes, the world is now a global village, where events in one part, have consequences in other parts. This coalition is therefore of the firm conviction that while there is a myriad of domestic issues to confront locally, every state or non-state action, policy or program, which undermines the inalienable human rights and dignity of our people, must be adequately scrutinized and effectively addressed. As such, there is the urgent need to analyse the policies, and programs of political leaders, the world over, through the lenses of the extent to which they respect the human rights and the dignity of all persons. Notwithstanding the national interest or objectives driving domestic policies, if they fail the test of respecting, promoting and protecting the rights and dignity of the human family, such policies, should be strongly condemned and exhaustively reviewed for the purpose of reforms.
This Coalition is very clear that the ideals of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, should not be discountenanced. The time-tested words of the declaration remain relevant till this day: “Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world…Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people…”
Violation of the rights of immigrants through arbitrary deportations
Contrary to these lofty ideals, Human Rights Monitors has been observing the various human rights violations connected to the arbitrary deportations of immigrants from the United States. Since January 20, 2025, the administration in the United States has ramped up mass deportations as it cracks down on immigration. In many cases, these sweeping deportations violate the fundamental human rights of immigrants, many of whom are Africans and peoples of African descent. While we are not saying that a country cannot run its affairs as it deems necessary, our concern is about actions, which undermine rights, dignity and civilised norms.
In the context of the immigration crackdown, we have seen shocking scenes in which the homes of immigrants are raided, and their mass arrests effected. We have seen families being torn apart as parents are forcefully removed and placed in detention facilities. We have seen people fleeing war zones and political persecution being harassed for seeking refuge.
These actions, from a country which prides itself as the bastion of democracy and human rights, violate the rights of asylum-seekers and migrants, while denying them the opportunity to ask for safety, and security. In the process of implementing these mass deportations, acts such as arbitrary detention, separation of immigrants from their families, the disruption of hitherto harmonious communities, and the subjection of those affected to racial profiling, combine to undermine their fundamental human rights as enshrined in international and municipal human rights instruments. According to American Civil Liberties Union: “(US)Federal immigration enforcement policies, including border enforcement measures by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), have led to an increase in racial profiling, border killings, and denial of due process rights. Immigrant workers are often abused, exploited, and have become scapegoats and victims of racism and stereotyping.”
HRM Submits Statement to UN Human Rights Council
As this situation unfolds, Human Rights Monitors has deemed it necessary to present the issue of the rights of immigrants in the United States to the highest human rights governance structures within the UN system. On April 2, 2025, this Coalition submitted a Statement to the 58th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, which held in Geneva, Switzerland from February 24 to April 4, 2025. The statement is titled: Forced and Arbitrary Deportation of Immigrants in the United States and Its Implications for Human Rights. At the 58th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the United States was one of the countries, which was reviewed under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The Statement submitted by this Coalition drew attention to the human rights situation with respect to the forced and arbitrary deportation of immigrants and the need for the United States to fulfil its obligations under international law. Our advocacy is for human rights, and dignity by ensuring all programs, policies and priorities do not mortgage rights and human dignity on the altar of internal domestic expediency. This was the central theme in the statement submitted to the UN Human Rights Council. This Coalition stressed the point that the safety, welfare and well being of migrants and immigrants should not be thrown overboard in a bid to crack down on immigration.
We equally made it clear that the resort to mass deportation violates several human rights and freedoms. These include protection against return to a country where people are at real risk of torture and other serious harms (refoulement); the right to seek asylum; freedom from arbitrary detention; family unity and children’s rights; and the principle of non-discrimination. This Coalition similarly addressed the effects of the current immigration crackdown on families of immigrants. Human rights campaigners have identified how Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have introduced more arbitrary measures, including the detention and separation of families, which have for years built their lives in the United States. We have equally seen families who were granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS), pending asylum applications, being detained and charged with illegal entry.
There can be no mistaken the fact that these actions dehumanize, criminalize, and cause real suffering to people, many of who are fleeing human rights crises to seek safety.
The human rights violations can equally be seen in situations where children watch their parents being taken away from their homes in handcuffs. Apart from the mental trauma such children are likely to suffer, they see their parents caught up in a discriminatory system that prolongs their suffering and treats them with no bit of empathy. This cruel treatment subverts international human rights instruments, which explicitly uphold the universal notion that the ‘family’ is the fundamental unit of society.
Importantly, under the 2030 Agenda, the international community, remains resolute about achieving sustainable development in its three dimensions – economic, social and environmental – in a balanced and integrated manner. Under this Agenda, world leaders committed to promote cohesive families. The harassment of immigrant families and their arbitrary deportation constitute a roll back of these commitments.
Broader Implications And How African Governments Should Respond
However, in calling for accountability and respect for human dignity, we make no mistake about the fact that African governments also have a big role to play. In the face of the challenges being faced by Nigerians and other Africans in the Diaspora, our governments must put in place effective systems to help. Apart from the fact that Africa is the continent of origin of many of the immigrants being currently harassed, African governments have benefited hugely from Diaspora remittances. In 2020, Nigerians in the United States alone reportedly sent home remittances worth $6 billion. Now that many of these fellow citizens are facing challenges, it is imperative that governments across the continent put in place modalities to support them.
Nonetheless, the ultimate responsibility for the protection of the rights of those affected lies with the United States. This is in line with the rule of law and natural justice. The United States also owes this obligation in the context of its adoption of the Refugee Protocol into US law. This adoption took the form of the United States Refugee Act of 1980, which was passed by unanimous vote in the Senate and assented by then President Jimmy Carter. It was stated at the time that: “The Refugee Act reflects our long tradition as a haven for people uprooted by persecution and political turmoil.” The 1967 Protocol and the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees make these points very clear.
Article 1 defines “refugee” as any person who is outside the country of his or her nationality owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, and who is unable or, owing to such fear is unwilling to return to his or her country.
It is antithetical to the core principles of human rights, international and natural justice to classify refugees seeking asylum who cross borders illegally as criminals. Article 31 says states shall not impose penalties, on account of their illegal entry or presence, on refugees coming from a territory where their life or freedom was threatened. They must promptly present themselves to the authorities and show good cause for their illegal entry or presence.
Article 33, which forms the crux of the Refugee Convention, makes it clear that: “No Contracting State shall expel or return (“refouler”) a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where his life or freedom would be threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.”
Nonetheless, persons convicted of criminal offences are declared illegible to be protected as refugees. Article 1 F therefore denies refugee status to anyone against whom there is evidence of a war crime, crime against humanity, or a serious non-political crime. Furthermore, Article 32 holds that States Parties shall not expel a refugee from their territory except in pursuance of a decision reached in accordance with due process of law. Looking at the spirit and the letters of these international laws, the raids and rounding up of immigrants in the United States for detention and later forced deportation by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), without trials, undermine these globally accepted norms and standards.
There are several international laws being breached by the ongoing arbitrary deportation of immigrants in the United States:
1) Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
– Article 9: No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile.
– Article 14: Everyone has the right to seek and enjoy asylum from persecution in other countries.
-Article 15: Everyone has the right to a nationality, and no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of their nationality or denied the right to change their nationality.
2.) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights:
– Article 13: An alien lawfully in the territory of a State may be expelled only pursuant to a decision reached in accordance with law and has the right to appeal.
– Article 7: No one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. Deportation actions that result in such consequences may violate this provision.
3.) Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment:
– Article 3: No one shall be expelled to a country where they may face torture.
4) Convention on the Rights of the Child:
– Article 3: The best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.
– Article 9: Ensure that a child shall not be separated from their parents unless it is in their best interests.
– Article 22: Refugee children shall receive appropriate protection and humanitarian assistance.
5) International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families:
-Article 22: Migrant workers and their families shall not be subject to collective expulsion, and each case shall be examined individually.
– Article 23: Migrant workers have the right to consular assistance.
6) Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees:
– Article 33: Prohibits the expulsion or return of refugees to countries where their life or freedom would be threatened (the principle of *non-refoulement).
7) International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination:
– Article 5: Ensures that everyone is free from racial discrimination and enjoys equal rights, including rights related to residence and deportation.
In the light of these express provisions of international and municipal laws, refugees and immigrants who are seeking asylum are lawfully present in the US under both US and international law. Under no guise should they be tagged criminals for entering without visas. This assertion similarly applies to persons granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) by Presidential Order. They include; Venezuelans, Haitians, Cubans, Salvadorans, Nigerians, Kenyans, Ethiopians, Ghanaians, Senegalese and others fleeing dictatorship, war, famine and gross human rights violations.
Recommendations And Conclusion
As noted in our statement to the UN Human Rights Council, all legal and legitimate steps should be taken to address the plight of immigrants facing forced and arbitrary deportations. We call for robust engagement with those affected through national, and multilateral agencies. This Coalition calls on the United Nations agencies, civil society, refugees-focused organizations, and experts on human rights to provide the support and expertise for the immediate improvement of the situation of human rights. Immigrants’ rights are human rights; as such, the fight against forced and discriminatory deportations should be a collective responsibility. Importantly, in the face of the nationalism, isolationism and the disregard for international norms, African leaders should ensure inclusive and effective governance to make life better for their people.
Post Script: A Brief on African Reparations
Human Rights Monitors similarly uses this medium to commend the African Union for choosing a reparation focused theme for the year 2025. The theme, Year of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations is apt in describing the cries of the continent for justice due to centuries of slavery and colonialism. If reparations and far-reaching compensations were paid for the decimation and loss of human lives, after the evils of holocaust, there is no logical basis to argue against African reparations. We therefore commend the AU for resuscitating this struggle and pledge our commitment as a coalition to educating and enlightening Nigerians and Africans at the grassroots about the significance of these efforts.
Thank you for your rapt attention.
