A detainee at a Pompano Beach, Florida-based Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility passed away, with the deceased being identified as a Haitian woman.

A detainee at a Pompano Beach, Florida-based Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility passed away, with the deceased being identified as a Haitian woman.

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Marie Ange Blaise, a 44-year-old woman from Haiti, unfortunately met her end on April 25 while under the supervision of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach, Florida. The precise reason behind her demise remains a mystery, as the investigation is yet to uncover the facts.

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Arrest and Transfer

Blaise was apprehended by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on February 12 at the Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. With an apparent lack of a valid immigrant visa, Blaise was handed an Expedited Removal Notice by the CBP authorities. After her initial detention, Blaise was shifted to ICE custody on February 14, spending time first at a detention center in San Juan, Puerto Rico, before being moved to the Richwood Correctional Center in Oakdale, Louisiana, and eventually settled at the Broward Transitional Center in Florida on April 5[1][2][3].

The Inquiry and Notifications

ICE has alerted various agencies and organizations regarding Blaise's death, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Office of Inspector General, the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility, and the Haitian consulate in Miami. Consistent with their policy, in-custody deaths must be reported to Congress, advocacy groups, and media within two business days, with a full report to be submitted within 90 days as per federal law[2][3].

Medical Care and Detention Conditions

ICE emphasizes that all detainees are provided with comprehensive healthcare services, including 24-hour emergency care as well as medical, dental, and mental health evaluations[3].

Inquisition's Progress

Detailed information regarding the investigation into Marie Ange Blaise's death is currently unavailable, as the inquiry is still ongoing[4]. Preliminary records indicate at least six people have perished in ICE custody during the year 2025[5].

The "Notification, Review, and Death Reports Requirements" rule ensures that reports are clear, timely, and reach all pertinent stakeholders[6]. Upon the death of a detained individual, an immediate communication protocol is activated, involving crucial parties such as close family members, the consulate of the deceased's home country, DHS officials, Congress, and the general public[6].

This policy aims to maintain transparency and accessibility of information beyond the legal commitment[6]. Recent instances include Maksym Chernyak, Serawit Gezahegn Dejene, and Genry Ruiz Guillén[5]. In 2024, other fatalities were reported: Ramesh Amechand, Pankaj Karan Singh Kataria, and José Manuel Sánchez-Castro[5].

[1] https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/haitian-woman-dies-detention-florida-ice-73371765[2] https://www.ice.gov/releases/haitian-woman-dies-custody-broward-transitional-center-pompano-beach-florida[3] https://www.ice.gov/detention-and-removal/detention-services/detainee-treatment-and-services[4] https://www.ice.gov/detention-and-removal/detainee-treatment-and-services/transparency-and-record-keeping[5] https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-provides-regular-updates-reports-deaths-detainees-its-custody[6] https://www.ice.gov/detention-and-removal/detainee-treatment-and-services/deaths-detainees-its-custody

1. The details of the investigation regarding Marie Ange Blaise's death, a Haitian woman who allegedly passed away in ICE custody, are not publicly available yet as the inquiry is still ongoing.
2. Blaise, who was arrested by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, spent time in various detention centers before being transferred to the Broward Transitional Center in Florida, where she reportedly died.
3. In line with their policy, ICE has notified several agencies and organizations, including Congress, about Blaise's death, as well as her medical conditions and the health-and-wellness services provided to detainees.
4. Reports of in-custody deaths, such as Blaise's, must be submitted to Congress, advocacy groups, and media within two business days, with a full report to follow within 90 days, as per federal law.
5. The death of Blaise, who allegedly lacked a valid immigrant visa, has sparked general news and political discussions surrounding science, medical conditions, health-and-wellness, and the treatment of immigrants in the United States.

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