Canadian National Dies in ICE Custody: What We Know

A Canadian citizen has died while in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in Miami, the agency announced Thursday.

Johnny Noviello, 49, was found unresponsive at the Bureau of Prisons Federal Detention Center on June 23 and pronounced dead at the scene.

The Context

Seven individuals have died while in ICE custody so far in 2025, compared to the 12 recorded in 2024, according to the agency. Congress requires ICE to report all deaths within its custody, and local officers and agents must carry out a review into the circumstances surrounding each case.

Johnny Noviello, 49, a Canadian citizen, died in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody on June 23, 2025.

Volusia County

What To Know

Noviello first entered the United States on January 2, 1988, with a legal visa, ICE said. He became a lawful permanent resident, or a green card holder, in October 1991.

In October 2023, the Canadian was convicted of racketeering, trafficking in oxycodone 7-14 grams, trafficking in illegal drugs 4 to 14 grams, trafficking in hydrocodone, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device to facilitate the commission of a crime in Volusia County on the eastern Florida coast. He was handed a 12-month prison sentence.

ICE then arrested Noviello on May 15, 2025, and issued him a notice to appear in immigration court on a charge of removability because of his criminal convictions.

When he was found unresponsive on June 23, ICE said medical staff responded immediately and began performing CPR. They also used a defibrillator and called 911. The Miami Fire and Rescue Department pronounced him deceased.

Noviello’s cause of death is still under investigation, ICE said.

While ICE maintains that its facilities are safe and secure and that detainees receive medical care, immigration advocacy groups have repeatedly raised concerns about the conditions.

In September 2024, the National Immigrant Justice Center issued a report that alleged cases of solitary confinement, medical neglect, and avoidable deaths within ICE detention centers.

ICE is currently seeking to drastically expand its detention space, as it seeks to house thousands more illegal immigrants awaiting removal proceedings as part of President Donald Trump‘s mass deportation efforts.

What People Are Saying

ICE, in its statement Thursday: “ICE remains committed to ensuring that all those in its custody reside in safe, secure, and humane environments. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay.

“All people in ICE custody receive medical, dental and mental health intake screening within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility, a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arrival at a facility, access to medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care. At no time during detention is a detained illegal alien denied emergent care.”