COPENHAGEN, 28 January 2026 – Yesterday OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Pere Joan Pons Sampietro (Spain) and Farah Karimi (Netherlands), Chair of the OSCE PA Ad Hoc Committee on Migration, conveyed concerns to the US delegation regarding the treatment of migrants and asylum seekers in the United States, and called for a frank and constructive dialogue grounded in the shared commitments of OSCE participating States.
In their message to Chairman Roger Wicker and Co-Chairman Joe Wilson of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, Pons and Karimi underscored that the issues raised are of direct relevance to the credibility of the OSCE’s common human dimension commitments.
“We fully recognize the legitimate right and responsibility of the United States, like any OSCE participating State, to secure its borders and to enforce its immigration laws, including by addressing unlawful entry and removing individuals convicted of serious crimes,” they said. At the same time, they emphasized that border management must be carried out in line with agreed human rights standards.
They recalled that the OSCE’s comprehensive concept of security is inseparable from the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as reflected in the Helsinki Final Act. Against these shared standards, they noted that recent reporting on immigration enforcement and detention practices merits careful scrutiny.
“The loss of life in these circumstances underscores the importance of ensuring that federal law enforcement operations are conducted with restraint, necessity, and proportionality, under effective oversight and in full respect of human rights, including the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression,” they said.
The OSCE PA President and Chair proposed a timely exchange with the U.S. Delegation to the OSCE PA, including through existing instruments such as the Ad Hoc Committee on Migration, on how Congress is engaging to promote adherence to OSCE principles and commitments in relation to migration and asylum policies and practices.
Finally, Pons and Karimi emphasized that sustained engagement strengthens trust and enables sensitive issues to be addressed with the seriousness and discretion they require.
