Unfair Immigration Policies

Unfair Immigration Policies

While international law permits states to establish immigration policies and deportation procedures, it does not grant them discretion to violate human rights in the process. The United States regularly fails to uphold international human rights law in its immigration laws and enforcement policies, by violating the rights of immigrants to fair treatment at the hands of government, to proportional sanctions, to freedom from arbitrary detention, to respect for the right to family unity, and to protection from return to persecution. Such policies violate the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Refugee Convention, treaties to which the United States is party.

Mario Chavez shares a moment with his wife, Lizeth Chavez, through the border fence at Playas de Tijuana during a weekend family visit. Mario, a US citizen, cannot not leave the US because of parole restrictions, and Lizeth, a Mexican citizen, does not have a visa to go to the United States.

© 2008 David Maung

US: Immigration Reform Should Uphold Rights

The United States government should urgently reform its unfair immigration system to uphold the basic rights of non-citizens and provide a path to legal status for the country’s unauthorized immigrants, Human Rights Watch said in a policy briefing released today. While the Senate and White House proposals are a good start, more attention should be paid to ongoing abuses in enforcement policies.

Immigration reform overlooks asylum-seekers

Apr 26, 2013
US: Senate Immigration Plan Important Yet Flawed

Apr 16, 2013
US: Statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on “Building an Immigration System Worthy of American Values”

Mar 20, 2013
Lawmakers Must Reevaluate Immigration Detention System

Mar 19, 2013

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Deportation and Disability in the US

Jul 23 2010 - 16:53

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Reports

Cultivating Fear

The Vulnerability of Immigrant Farmworkers in the US to Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment
No Way to Live

Alabama’s Immigrant Law
A Costly Move

Far and Frequent Transfers Impede Hearings for Immigrant Detainees in the United States

Unfair Immigration Policies

Immigration reform overlooks asylum-seekers

Apr 26, 2013

"Work authorization is not meant to get you rich, it's to let you live," said an Egyptian asylum-seeker who fled to the United States after a radical group beat him and tried to kidnap his wife and daughter. After fleeing persecution in their home countries, asylum-seekers like this man in New Jersey face a new type of maltreatment in the United States: The U.S. government won't let them work during what is often a drawn-out asylum process.
US: Senate Immigration Plan Important Yet Flawed

Apr 16, 2013

The US Senate is set to take an important step toward establishing landmark protections for unauthorized immigrants. The plan could grant eventual legal status to millions of people and reduce their vulnerability to human rights abuses. A summary of the proposed bill was made public on April 16, 2013, outlining significant changes to the complex array of immigration laws in the United States.
US: Statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on “Building an Immigration System Worthy of American Values”

Mar 20, 2013

On March 20, 2013, the United States Senate held a hearing entitled "Building an Immigration System Worthy of American Values." Human Rights Watch submitted the following written statement for the record.
Lawmakers Must Reevaluate Immigration Detention System

Mar 19, 2013

Too many immigrants have been detained unnecessarily, at significant cost to the U.S. taxpayer.
US: Statement to the House Judiciary Committee on "The Separation of Nuclear Families under US Immigration Law"

Mar 14, 2013

On March 14, 2013, the US House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security, held a hearing entitled “The Separation of Nuclear Families under US Immigration Law.” Human Rights Watch submitted the following written statement for the record.
US: Comments on Standards to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Sexual Abuse in Detention Facilities

Feb 21, 2013

Human Rights Watch submitted these comments to the US Department of Homeland Security in response to its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding Standards To Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Sexual Abuse and Assault in Confinement Facilities. The comments address the standards that apply to immigration detention facilities.
US: Statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Immigration Reform and Family Unity

Feb 18, 2013
US: Statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee for Hearing on "Comprehensive Immigration Reform"

Feb 13, 2013

On February 13, 2013, the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing entitled “Comprehensive Immigration Reform.” Human Rights Watch submitted the following written statement for the record. The US immigration system should respect and protect families – including binational same-sex couples.
US: Act to Protect Children in Conflict

Feb 5, 2013

The United States government should promptly carry out the recommendations of a United Nations committee of experts to improve protection of children abroad from armed conflict, Human Rights Watch said today. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child released a report and recommendations to the US government on February 5, 2013.
US: Statement to the House Judiciary Committee on "America's Immigration System"

Feb 5, 2013

On February 5, 2013, the US House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security, held a hearing entitled “America’s Immigration System: Opportunities for Legal Immigration and Enforcement of Laws against Illegal Immigration.” Human Rights Watch submitted this written statement for the record.

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