A coalition of 125 rights organizations, including the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) and Haitian Bridge Alliance, recently penned an open letter to US President Joe Biden, urging him to close the Guantanamo Migrant Operations Center (MOC) and process asylum seekers encountered at sea in a manner consistent with US human rights obligations. The groups argue that holding asylum seekers in Guantanamo is inhumane and illegal, as it hides the mistreatment of these individuals from public awareness and legal scrutiny. The signatories also called for an end to intercepting and returning sea-bound migrants from Haiti back to dangerous conditions in their home country.
The treatment of asylum seekers held at the Guantanamo facility has come under renewed scrutiny following a report by the IRAP, which detailed inadequate conditions, lack of transparency and accountability, and mistreatment of detainees. Former MOC staff cited in the report stated that migrants are denied private calls and punished for speaking out against mistreatment, while traumatized children are not provided with education or professional psychiatric care. The US State Department has denied the report’s conclusions, insisting that the facility is humanitarian and that detainees are not held against their will.
Immigration and border security have become contentious issues in the lead-up to the November 5 elections, with both presidential candidates, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, advocating for stricter border controls and deportations. While immigration levels have risen under President Biden, his administration implemented new asylum restrictions over the summer, resulting in a decrease in irregular crossings from Mexico. However, migrants attempting to cross into the US by foot face increasingly dangerous conditions, with a tenfold increase in deaths reported in New Mexico over the past year due to harsh terrain and extreme temperatures.
The rights organizations’ letter to President Biden reflects a broader concern over the treatment of asylum seekers and migrants at the US-Mexico border, as well as the impact of immigration policies on vulnerable populations. Calls to close the Guantanamo MOC and cease intercepting and returning migrants to dangerous conditions highlight the need for a more humane and rights-respecting approach to immigration enforcement. The issue has gained attention following the ProPublica investigation and the IRAP report, raising questions about the US government’s obligations under international human rights law and the need for greater transparency and accountability in its treatment of asylum seekers and migrants.
As the debate over immigration continues to shape US policy and public discourse, the rights organizations’ letter serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding human rights and dignity in the treatment of vulnerable populations. The rising death toll among migrants attempting to cross into the US underscores the urgency of addressing the root causes of migration and providing adequate support and protection to those seeking asylum. Moving forward, it is crucial for the US government to listen to the concerns raised by activists and rights organizations and take concrete steps to ensure the safety and well-being of asylum seekers and migrants.
