You might think that ICE only targets Black people or other people of color, but that’s not entirely true. Recently, ICE detained a Canadian citizen named Johnny Noviello. What makes this situation even more troubling is that Noviello wasn’t just any foreign national; he was a lawful U.S. permanent resident. For reasons that weren’t immediately clear, ICE took him into custody in Florida while he awaited deportation. Before anything could happen, though, he was shockingly found dead on Monday.
ICE medical staff were called right away. They performed CPR and used an electronic defibrillator in an effort to save him. Sadly, it was already too late. The Canadian was pronounced dead later that same day. The exact cause of his death is still unknown. Global Affairs Canada has confirmed it is aware of the situation and is currently investigating, though it hasn’t released more details due to privacy concerns.
ICE defended its actions by stating that detainees are never denied emergency care or access to medical services. As for why Noviello was detained, ICE explained that even though he had entered the U.S. legally and had been living there as a permanent resident since 1991, he was targeted for removal after being convicted of drug charges. In 2023, he was arrested for drug trafficking and served a one-year prison sentence before being picked up by ICE.
Many internet users were shocked to learn that a Canadian citizen died while in a detention center in Florida. One user wrote, “The dude was here as a permanent legal resident of the US, living here since 1991. He was 49, so he’s been here since he was a teenager, yet for some reason ICE said this dude was overstaying his visa? WTF is even going on here?”
Others began to question the quality of healthcare provided by ICE to those in detention. One user pointed to concerns about the Florida Department of Corrections, specifically mentioning unqualified doctors with Caribbean medical degrees who are allowed to waive state licensing exams if they work in the prison system. The user added, “They give you an aspirin for any problem, and then if you ask for a follow-up, the guards deny your request, lose your paperwork, and ignore your grievances.”
Some also remarked that this wasn’t the first time someone had suffered serious consequences in ICE custody. One user recalled a previous case where a woman experienced a stillbirth while detained in Texas due to a lack of prenatal care.
