Karmactive Staff
Johnny Noviello never made it home to Canada. The 49-year-old man died on June 23 while locked up at a federal detention center in Miami, Florida. He had been waiting for immigration officials to send him back to his home country.
Noviello was found not breathing at 12:54 p.m. at the Bureau of Prisons Federal Detention Center. Staff tried to save him with CPR and shock treatments. Miami Fire Rescue arrived but could not help. He was declared dead at 1:36 p.m.
The cause of his death remains unknown. Three different government offices are now looking into what happened. They have 90 days to finish their investigation and release a report.
A Life Split Between Two Countries
Noviello came to the United States in 1988 when he was young. He got his green card three years later and could legally stay in America forever. He lived in Daytona Beach, Florida, since he was 10 years old. There, he helped run a car dealership called Daytona Auto Sales with his father.
Similar Posts
His troubles started in 2023. A Florida court found him guilty of serious crimes including drug dealing and racketeering. The charges involved selling oxycodone and hydrocodone pills. He got 12 months in prison but only served approximately 125 days. The rest of his sentence was changed to probation in February.
Even though Noviello had legal permission to live in America, his criminal record changed everything. Immigration officials arrested him on May 15 at a probation meeting. They said his drug crimes meant he could no longer stay in the country.
Family Worried About His Health
Noviello’s family says he had epilepsy and needed daily medicine to prevent seizures. His father Angelo and his lawyers worked hard to make sure he got his medication while in jail. They were worried about his health care in immigration custody.
His family had little contact with him after his arrest in May. They tried to make sure prison staff knew about his medical needs but had limited success reaching him.
Immigration officials say they provide full medical care to everyone in their custody. They claim all detainees get health checks when they arrive and can get emergency help 24 hours a day. The agency says no one is ever denied urgent medical care.
But advocacy groups have long questioned whether immigration detention centers provide good enough medical care. Many people have died in these facilities over the years.
Canada Demands Answers
Foreign Minister Anita Anand quickly responded to news of Noviello’s death. She said Canadian officials were told about what happened and are asking U.S. authorities for more details. Anand offered sympathy to the family through social media but said she would not share more information to protect their privacy.
The incident adds tension between Canada and the United States. Many Canadians have stopped visiting America because they worry about harsh immigration enforcement.
Growing Number of Deaths
Noviello became the tenth person to die in immigration custody during the current fiscal year. Since October, 11 people have died while detained by immigration officials. Government records show at least 185 people have died in immigration custody since 2003.
Earlier this year, a Haitian woman died after spending more than 10 weeks in custody. She had complained about chest pain before her death. Florida lawmakers called for a clear investigation into her case.
The Trump administration has increased immigration enforcement across the country. This has led to protests and concerns about how people are treated in detention.
Investigators now have three months to determine what killed Johnny Noviello. His death raises fresh questions about medical care in immigration facilities and whether the system protects people’s basic health needs while they wait to learn their fate.
