At Campos Law Firm, we closely monitor developments in U.S. immigration policy to protect our clients’ rights and future. On Monday, September 28, 2026, more than a dozen independent UN human rights experts called on the United States to stop deporting migrants to countries other than their own when they face a risk of torture or persecution.
The next day, Tuesday, September 29, the Supreme Court went the other way and allowed the government to resume those transfers. Here is what we know, what we do not, and what you can do.
What did the UN experts say?
According to Reuters, the experts sent a formal communication to the U.S. government warning that the harms of the program “are no longer hypothetical” and describing a “cascade of human rights violations.”
The communication, as reported by Reuters, says at least 23,000 third-country nationals have already been deported to 29 nations and territories, and that the U.S. has agreements with 35 countries and territories to take them. The experts raised particular concern about Equatorial Guinea and the Central African Republic, and about vulnerable groups including children, women, people with disabilities, trafficking victims, human rights defenders, and stateless people.
The U.S. mission to the UN in Geneva did not immediately respond. Washington has previously defended the agreements as lawful and consistent with U.S. immigration law.
What did the Supreme Court decide?
The case is Department of Homeland Security v. D.V.D. U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy in Boston had ordered that every transfer be preceded by written notice of the destination and a meaningful chance to object based on fear of persecution or torture. The First Circuit upheld that order in September.
On September 29, according to NPR, the Supreme Court stayed Judge Murphy’s order and allowed deportations to resume while the litigation continues. The Court’s three liberal justices objected. The Court will hear full arguments on the merits in December 2026.
Can the UN’s position stop a deportation?
Not directly. UN special procedures experts are independent, do not speak for the organization as a whole, and their communications are not binding on U.S. courts. They are no substitute for a court order.
What remains in force is the principle of non-refoulement: the United States may not send anyone to a country where they would likely be tortured. That principle is written into the Convention Against Torture (CAT) and federal law, alongside withholding of removal when there is a risk of persecution.
The key point is that these protections are decided country by country. Winning protection from your home country does not automatically protect you from a third country. That is why having the chance to say, in time and with evidence, “I fear for my life there” matters so much.
What can you do now?
- If you have a final order of removal: review with an attorney which protections you hold and as to which country. That distinction shapes your defense if a third destination comes up.
- If you are notified of a country that is not your own: state immediately, in writing if possible, any fear of persecution or torture there, and ask to speak with your attorney.
- Document the risk: human rights reports, news coverage, or personal evidence about the destination country can be decisive in a motion to reopen or an emergency filing.
- Keep your file within reach: your A-number, prior decisions, and your attorney’s contact information. With the order stayed, deadlines may be measured in hours.
- Do not sign anything you do not understand: a waiver signed under pressure can close options that were still open.
Protect Your Immigration Status with Campos Law Firm
International pressure matters, but it does not replace a well-prepared defense. Our team reviews your file, identifies the protections you already have and those you may still pursue, and acts quickly if a third country appears in your case. Campos Law Firm is here to help you.
Do not leave your immigration status to chance. Call us today at +1 (844) 922-6767 to schedule a free, confidential consultation in English or Spanish. Campos Law Firm: Legal Solutions in All Areas of Law.
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