A/65/222
restrictions on legal avenues for migration (including family reunification); a rise in
unemployment and social exclusion in some countries of origin, along with
increased structural disparities within and among countries; and pull factors in
destination countries, particularly the increased demand in the informal sectors of
the labour market, which is endogenous to countries of destination.
22. The Special Rapporteur holds the view that irregular migration is the result of
the interaction of factors in countries of origin and destination and that therefore,
managing irregular migration is a shared responsibility as pointed out in the theme
of the fourth meeting of the Global Forum on Migration and Development. 8 In his
view, recognizing the demand for the labour force of irregular migrants in countries
of destination should be the basis for the moral and legal obligation of countries of
destination and origin to share responsibility for shaping and implementing a human
rights-based approach to migration governance and subsequent decriminalization of
irregular migration.
2.
The disproportionate use of detention in migration management
23. The Special Rapporteur deeply regrets that in many countries, immigration
procedures routinely include detention as the main, or even the only, interim
measure to ensure the efficacy of migration control. Detention is also used as a
deterrent measure to prevent further arrivals of migrants and asylum-seekers. In his
view, these objectives cannot justify the widespread and increasing use of
immigration detention. The Special Rapporteur is of the view that States should, on
the contrary, progressively abolish it. 9
24. The Special Rapporteur is also concerned that in some instances immigration
detention mimics criminal detention and is applied without any judicial oversight,
thus operating in clear contradiction to international law and human rights
standards. He remains concerned about arbitrary migration-related detention laws
and practices, the general absence of implementation of judicial and due process of
law guarantees, and regrets that in some instances the maximum length of
immigration detention is undetermined.
25. The Special Rapporteur concurs with the Working Group on Arbitrary
Detention, which has stated that the principle of proportionality requires that
administrative detention should be considered as a measure of last resort. Strict legal
limitations must be observed and judicial safeguards provided for. The reasons put
forward by States to justify detention, such as the necessity of identifying migrants
in irregular situations, the risk of migrants absconding or facilitating the expulsion
of irregular migrants who have been served with removal orders must be clearly
defined and enumerated in national legislation. 10
26. Migrants in detention are sometimes confined in overcrowded locations
without adequate health care, food, sanitation or safe drinking water. Some are also
subjected to prolonged or indefinite administrative detention, in conditions which
have been denounced by the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants
and the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment.
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8
9
10
8
See http://www.gfmd.org/mexico-2010/.
E/CN.4/2003/85, para. 74.
A/HRC/13/30.
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