𝟰𝟵 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝗢𝗟𝗗 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗔𝗡, 𝗔 𝗟𝗔𝗪𝗙𝗨𝗟 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧, 𝗗𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗗𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗗𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗕𝗬 𝗜𝗖𝗘

 

Johnny Noviello: Death in U.S. Immigration Custody

Johnny Noviello, a Canadian national and lawful permanent resident of the United States, died on June 23, 2025, while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Federal Detention Center in Miami, Florida. He was 49 years old. The cause of death remains under official investigation by American authorities.

Born in Canada, Noviello entered the United States legally in 1988 and obtained permanent resident status in 1991. In 2023, he was convicted in Volusia County, Florida, on charges including drug trafficking and racketeering. He was sentenced to a twelve-month term in prison. Following the completion of his sentence, Noviello was arrested by ICE officials on May 15, 2025, at a probation office. He was subsequently detained on the grounds of “removability” due to his conviction for a controlled substance offense.

According to ICE, Noviello was found unresponsive at the detention center on the afternoon of June 23. Medical staff at the facility initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation and used an automated external defibrillator in an attempt to revive him. Emergency services were contacted, and the Miami Fire Rescue Department pronounced him dead approximately thirty minutes later.

Noviello's death marks the tenth reported fatality in ICE custody during the 2025 fiscal year, reflecting ongoing scrutiny of the agency’s detention practices. The incident follows a series of deaths that have drawn criticism from advocacy groups and international observers concerned about conditions in U.S. immigration detention centers.

In response to the incident, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand issued a public statement offering condolences to Noviello's family and confirmed that Canadian consular officials were urgently seeking further details from U.S. counterparts. Canadian authorities declined to release additional information out of respect for the privacy of the deceased's family.

ICE has reiterated its commitment to the provision of humane and medically appropriate care for individuals in its custody. The agency states that all detainees receive initial health screenings within 12 hours of arrival, full medical evaluations within 14 days, and 24-hour access to emergency care throughout their detention.

The broader context of Noviello’s death includes heightened immigration enforcement measures under the Trump administration, a policy environment that has drawn both domestic protest and international concern. The cumulative toll of detainee deaths in ICE custody—18 across the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years—has intensified debate over the agency’s operational standards and accountability mechanisms.