A Canadian man, Johnny Noviello, aged 49, has tragically passed away while in federal custody at the Bureau of Prisons Federal Detention Center in Miami, according to a press release from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His death occurred on Monday afternoon, with the exact cause still under investigation.
Noviello had been in detention while awaiting his removal from the United States. He initially entered the country in 1988 under a legal visa and became a lawful permanent resident in 1991. However, his legal standing changed due to a drug trafficking conviction alongside other charges in 2023, for which he received a one-year prison sentence.
Last month, ICE agents apprehended him at his probation office, resulting in charges of removability based on his drug-related conviction. Unfortunately, Noviello’s death marks the eighth fatality of immigration detainees in federal custody this year alone, contributing to a troubling total of 11 reported deaths in 2024.
This incident reflects ongoing concerns regarding the treatment and conditions within immigration detention facilities, especially as a growing number of detainee deaths are reported. The case raises questions about the health care provided to those in custody and the overall system’s ability to ensure the well-being of detainees. As investigations proceed, it remains imperative for authorities to address these critical issues comprehensively.