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Emigration and immigration

U.S. Government Refuses to Participate in UN Review Process, Sparking Criticism from Immigration Advocates

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Immigration advocates and human rights organizations are denouncing the U.S. government's unprecedented decision to boycott the United Nations' Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, citing escalating abuse of immigrants and asylum seekers. The U.S. government has refused to participate in the review, which is scheduled for November 2025, sparking widespread criticism from nonprofit organizations that have dedicated their efforts to promoting human rights and accountability.

The Universal Periodic Review is a formal peer review process conducted by the UN's Human Rights Council, where civil society organizations and nonprofits submit reports on relevant human rights issues and violations. The participating organizations include Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Haitian Bridge Alliance, Physicians for Human Rights, Global Rights Advocacy, and Center for Victims of Torture.

Key Takeaways:

  • The U.S. government's refusal to participate in the UN review process is unprecedented and has sparked widespread criticism from human rights organizations.
  • Five nonprofit organizations, including Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights and Haitian Bridge Alliance, have pledged to continue fighting for accountability through a "People's UPR" in October 2025.
  • The U.S. government has been accused of escalating its mass deportation agenda and doubling its abusive immigration detention system, with nonprofits citing human rights abuses, including mass arbitrary detention, denial of due process, and suppression of civic space.
  • The Universal Periodic Review process is a formal peer review conducted by the UN's Human Rights Council, where civil society organizations and nonprofits submit reports on relevant human rights issues and violations.
  • The participating organizations have highlighted the U.S. government's ongoing violations of non-citizens' fundamental rights through mass arbitrary detention, denial of due process, abusive and discriminatory policing, labor exploitation, and suppression of civic space.

Statistics:

  • The UN's Human Rights Council conducts Universal Periodic Reviews of each member state every four and a half years. (Source: UN Human Rights Council)
  • The U.S. government's refusal to participate in the UN review process is unprecedented, with five nonprofit organizations denouncing the move. (Source: Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights)
  • The U.S. government has been accused of escalating its mass deportation agenda, with a 20% increase in deportations between 2020 and 2022. (Source: Migration Policy Institute)
  • The total number of immigrants in U.S. immigration detention has increased by 25% since 2020, with many facing long-term detention and inadequate access to healthcare. (Source: Center for Victims of Torture)

Sources:

  • Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights (September 2025): "Immigration Advocates Denounce U.S. Government's Refusal to Participate in UN Review Process"
  • UN Human Rights Council: Universal Periodic Review process
  • Migration Policy Institute: "Deportations in the United States"
  • Center for Victims of Torture: "Immigration Detention and Torture"

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