Haitian Asylum Seeker's Death Ruled Homicide After ICE Release in Freezing Conditions

Daphy Michel, a 31-year-old Haitian asylum seeker, died on 2 March 2023. Her death was ruled a homicide by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office, with hypothermia listed as the cause. Her family now plans to take legal action against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Michel was first arrested in summer 2022 after an incident linked to her psychiatric condition. She spent six months in jail awaiting her initial hearing. ICE then took her into custody and transferred her to Pittsburgh.

She was released from federal custody on 27 February 2023, just days before her death. After her release, she was found at a bus shelter, where she had been sitting for several days in winter conditions. At the time, she was suffering from untreated severe mental health issues and faced a significant language barrier.

ICE had previously ended a policy in 2022 that required reporting deaths of detainees within 30 days of release. Michel’s case has since drawn scrutiny over the circumstances of her detention and release. The medical examiner’s report classified her death as homicide due to hypothermia. Her family intends to sue ICE, citing the conditions of her release and the lack of support for her mental health needs. The case raises concerns about the treatment of vulnerable detainees in the system.