Canadian Man Dies in U.S. Immigration Custody: Ottawa Demands Urgent Answers
June 27, 2025 — Miami, FL
Canadian officials are pressing for immediate answers following the death of Johnny Noviello, a 49-year-old Canadian national, who died on June 23 while being held in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in Florida.
According to a statement by ICE, Noviello was found unresponsive at the Krome North Service Processing Center in Miami. Medical staff reportedly administered CPR and used a defibrillator before calling emergency responders. Despite their efforts, he was later pronounced dead.
Noviello, who entered the United States legally in 1988 and became a permanent resident in 1991, was detained by ICE on May 15, 2025. The agency cited his 2023 conviction on multiple drug charges, including racketeering and trafficking in controlled substances such as oxycodone and hydromorphone, as grounds for deportation.
He had served a 12-month sentence in Volusia County, Florida, and was placed in removal proceedings upon release. ICE affirmed that the detention facility complies with federal standards and insisted that “emergent medical care is never denied to detainees.”
This case marks the ninth death in ICE custody in 2025, and the fourth within Florida, according to figures reported by the Miami Herald. The rising number of in-custody deaths has prompted criticism from advocacy groups and foreign governments.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand expressed concern on social media, stating that Ottawa is “urgently seeking more information” from U.S. authorities. Canadian consular officials are now actively involved in the case and assisting Noviello’s family.
Attorney Daniel Leising, who defended Noviello in the 2023 drug trafficking case, described his client as compliant and non-violent. “Johnny was not a danger to anyone,” he said. Leising also revealed that Noviello had epilepsy and was on seizure medication, which his family had worked hard to ensure he received during detention.
U.S. law permits the revocation of green cards and deportation of permanent residents found guilty of serious offenses, particularly drug-related crimes. However, the death of a detainee with pre-existing medical conditions raises critical questions about health care access in immigration detention centers.
As investigations continue, the circumstances surrounding Noviello’s death are intensifying calls for greater accountability and reform in the U.S. immigration detention system.