A Haitian nationwide, Marie Ange Blaise, 44, who had been in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, was pronounced deceased by medical professionals on the Broward Transitional Heart (BTC) in Pompano Seashore, Florida, on April 25 at 8:35 p.m.
The reason for demise is presently beneath investigation.
Blaise, who entered the U.S. with out admission or parole at an unknown location and date, was encountered by U.S. Customs and Border Safety (CBP) on February 12 on the Henry E. Rohlsen Worldwide Airport in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, as she tried to board a flight to Charlotte, North Carolina. On the identical day, CBP issued a Discover of Expedited Removing, citing inadmissibility attributable to her lack of a sound immigrant visa.
Following her encounter with CBP, Blaise was transferred to ICE Enforcement and Removing Operations (ERO) Miami on February 14, the place she was initially detained on the San Juan staging facility in Puerto Rico. On February 21, she was moved to the Richwood Correctional Heart in Oakdale, Louisiana, earlier than being transferred again to ICE custody in Miami on April 5, the place she was detained on the BTC in Pompano Seashore, Florida.
According to ICE coverage, the company has notified the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety, the Workplace of Inspector Basic, and the ICE Workplace of Skilled Duty about Blaise’s demise. The Consulate of Haiti in Miami has additionally been knowledgeable. ICE has dedicated to offering transparency concerning the incident and can launch additional particulars in accordance with its normal procedures. Moreover, the company will publish a information launch on the ICE public web site inside two enterprise days, in compliance with its coverage. Stories associated to in-custody deaths are additionally obtainable on the ICE.gov Newsroom and the Detainee Death Reporting page.
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This marks the seventh demise in ICE custody for the reason that starting of fiscal 12 months 2025. A earlier demise involving a Caribbean nationwide occurred on December 16, 2024, when Ramesh Amechand, a Guyanese nationwide, handed away whereas in ICE detention.
ICE stays dedicated to offering complete medical care to all people in its custody, together with emergency medical, dental, and psychological well being providers. The company emphasizes that no particular person is denied pressing care throughout their detention.