Marie Ange Blaise, a 44-year-old Haitian woman, died on April 25 while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach, Florida. Her death, now under federal investigation, is reigniting concerns over the treatment of Haitian nationals and other migrants detained in U.S. immigration facilities.
Blaise’s journey through the immigration system began on February 12, when she was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the
Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. She was reportedly attempting to travel to Charlotte, North Carolina, without a valid immigrant visa. Following the encounter, Blaise was issued a Notice of Expedited Removal and transferred to ICE custody.
Over the next several weeks, Blaise was shuffled between multiple ICE detention centers, including locations in Puerto Rico and Louisiana. On April 5, she was transferred to the Broward Transitional Center in Florida. Less than three weeks lat
er, she was dead.
Accounts from fellow detainees suggest that Blaise had repeatedly complained of chest pains leading up to her death. She was allegedly given medication and told to rest. Her condition worsened, and she was later pronounced dead at 8:35 p.m.
ICE has stated that the incident has been reported to the Department of Homeland Se
curity’s Office of Inspector General, the ICE Office of Professional Responsi
bility, and the Consulate of Haiti in Miami. A full report is expected within 90 days, in accordance with congressional requirements.
Blaise’s death has been met with sorrow and outrage from immigration advocates, Haitian American community leaders, and human rights organizations. Her case
highlights ongoing concerns over the treatment of migrants—particularly Black and Caribbean nationals—within the U.S. immigration system.
This tragedy marks at least the third reported death in ICE custody in South Florida since late J
anuary, intensifying calls for increased transparency, medical oversight, and fundamental reforms within the
immigration detention system.
As investigations continue, advocates demand not just answers—but systemic change to protect the lives of vulnerable individuals navigating a system many view as inequitable and inhumane.
