Report on Federal Immigration Actions and Violations of Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Breaches of International Law and SDG 16

A report from the University of Washington’s Center for Human Rights indicates that recent federal immigration enforcement actions have violated international humanitarian law. These actions directly contravene the principles of Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, which calls for promoting the rule of law and ensuring equal access to justice for all.

Key Findings: Enforced Disappearances and Lack of Access to Justice

The report centers on the practice of “enforced disappearance,” defined as the arrest and extended detention of individuals without access to legal counsel or contact with the outside world. This practice undermines fundamental human rights and key SDG targets.

1. Systematic Secrecy: The 16 cases examined, all with connections to Washington state, are characterized by an unusual level of secrecy, impeding the development of accountable and transparent institutions as mandated by SDG 16.6.
2. Denial of Legal Access: Detainees were held for days or weeks, unable to contact family or lawyers. This represents a significant failure to provide equal access to justice for all, a core target of SDG 16.3.
3. Violation of Due Process: The actions described circumvent established legal and humanitarian protocols, weakening the rule of law that SDG 16 aims to strengthen at national and international levels.

Case Studies: Violations of SDG 10 and SDG 16 in Washington State

The report details specific instances where the rights of migrants and asylum seekers were violated, highlighting a failure to uphold SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, particularly Target 10.7 concerning safe and orderly migration.

• Asylum-Seeking Family from Africa: This family was held incommunicado for 24 days at a Customs and Border Patrol facility in Whatcom County. Officials refused to provide information to human rights advocates, demonstrating a lack of institutional transparency (SDG 16.6).
• Separated Family from Honduras: A woman and her U.S. citizen children were detained in Ferndale while her husband was held separately in Tacoma. They were denied contact with legal aid for approximately two weeks. The report notes the family did not appear in the ICE Locator system, suggesting they were moved to avoid detection, a practice that obstructs justice (SDG 16.3).

Deportation Practices and Refoulement: Contradicting Global Goals

The investigation found that many detentions culminated in deportation to unsafe third countries, a practice known as “refoulement,” which is a severe human rights violation.

• Deportation to Unsafe Facilities: The report documents 14 cases where individuals were deported to facilities such as the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in El Salvador.
• Foreseeable Harm and Torture: At least seven men connected to Washington state were sent to CECOT, where they reportedly faced abuse and torture. Transporting individuals to a location where such outcomes are foreseeable demonstrates a failure to protect human rights and ensure responsible migration management (SDG 10.7) and directly opposes the goal of ending all forms of violence (SDG 16.1).
• Lack of Criminal Basis: A significant number of the Venezuelan nationals deported to CECOT had no criminal record beyond immigration violations, underscoring the disproportionate and unjust nature of the actions.

Institutional Accountability and Recommendations

The report concludes that the U.S. government and its contractors bear responsibility for the disappearance and torture of these individuals. This situation underscores the urgent need to build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels, as prioritized by SDG 16. The report calls for creative community-level responses to protect vulnerable populations and uphold human rights, ensuring that local actions contribute to the global pursuit of justice and strong institutions.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The article directly addresses SDG 16 by focusing on the breakdown of justice and the rule of law. It details cases of “enforced disappearance,” where individuals are detained by government agents without access to legal counsel or the outside world, which is a clear violation of legal and human rights principles. The article also highlights the lack of accountability and transparency in federal institutions, as evidenced by the secrecy surrounding these detentions and the deliberate actions to move detainees to “avoid detection.” The mention of torture and abuse in detention centers further underscores the failure to protect individuals and reduce violence, a core aspect of this goal.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• This goal is relevant through its focus on migration. The article discusses the unsafe deportation of immigrants, a practice known as “refoulement,” where people are sent to situations that are dangerous. This directly contradicts the aim of facilitating safe and responsible migration. The unequal application of law and protection for migrants, asylum seekers, and their families, as described in the article, is a central theme of reducing inequalities within and among countries.

Identified SDG Targets

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

1. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
   • The article connects to this target by describing the abuse and torture faced by deportees. Specifically, it mentions that over 200 Venezuelan nationals held at the CECOT center in El Salvador “faced abuse and torture,” including “allegedly being shot at with rubber bullets.” This represents a failure to protect individuals from violence while under state control.
2. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
   • This is a central target addressed in the article. The report identifies 16 cases of “enforced disappearance,” where people were “held for extended periods of time without access to a lawyer.” The article explicitly states that these actions are “breaking international humanitarian law” and, in one instance, were in “violation of a federal court order.” This demonstrates a clear erosion of the rule of law and a denial of access to justice.
3. Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
   • The article highlights a severe lack of transparency and accountability. The director of the Center for Human Rights states, “The level of secrecy is what’s different in these cases.” The report notes that one family “did not appear in the ICE Locator” and was moved “to avoid detection,” indicating a deliberate effort by institutions to operate without oversight or transparency.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

1. Target 10.7: Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies.
   • The article describes migration policies that are the opposite of safe and responsible. It details cases of “refoulement,” where “immigrants were deported to situations that were unsafe.” The deportation of individuals to a facility in El Salvador where “torture was a foreseeable outcome” is a direct example of unsafe and irresponsible migration management.

Implied Indicators for Measuring Progress

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Indicator for Target 16.1: The number of reported incidents of torture and abuse of detainees. The article provides a specific instance: “more than 200 other Venezuelan nationals who faced abuse and torture at the center, including allegedly being shot at with rubber bullets.”
• Indicator for Target 16.3: The number of individuals detained without access to legal counsel. The article identifies “16 cases where people have been arrested… without access to a lawyer.” The duration of such detentions (e.g., “24 days,” “an estimated two weeks”) also serves as a measurable indicator of the denial of justice.
• Indicator for Target 16.6: The number of detainees not registered in official public tracking systems. The article implies this indicator by stating a family “did not appear in the ICE Locator,” which suggests a lack of institutional transparency.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Indicator for Target 10.7: The number of individuals deported to countries where they face significant risk of human rights violations. The article points to this with its discussion of “refoulement” and the specific case of at least seven men who passed through Washington state and were held in the CECOT prison in El Salvador.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Summary

Source: kuow.org