Haitian Asylum Seeker Dies of Hypothermia Days After ICE Release

Daphy Michel, a 31-year-old Haitian asylum seeker, died on 2 March from hypothermia. Her death was ruled a homicide by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. Her family now plans to take legal action against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Michel was arrested in summer 2022 after shouting at imaginary people due to severe mental health issues. She spent six months in jail awaiting her first hearing and underwent multiple psychiatric evaluations.

On 27 February, ICE released her from federal custody. Officers fitted her with an ankle monitor and took her to Pittsburgh. There, she was left at a bus shelter for days, dressed in clothes unsuitable for winter weather.

At the time of her release, Michel had untreated mental health problems and faced a significant language barrier. ICE had previously ended a policy in 2022 that required reporting detainee deaths within 30 days of release. Michel’s death occurred just five days after her release. The official ruling classified it as a homicide caused by exposure to extreme cold. Her family is now preparing to sue ICE over the circumstances of her death.