Johnny Noviello, a 49-year-old Canadian man, died in custody of an opioid overdose. He was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a federal detention center in Miami, Florida. His death, 56 days later on June 23, has led to emergency calls for investigation from his family and Canadian officials.
ICE arrested Noviello on May 15. He remains in custody pending removal from the United States due to his controlled substance conviction history. At the time of his deportation, he had outstanding drug-related charges, including racketeering and drug trafficking in Volusia County, Florida. In July 2023 he was sentenced to 12 months of incarceration for his crimes. His family disclosed that he had been living with epilepsy and had been prescribed medication to manage his seizures. They ensured that he was given his medication during his time in detention.
The circumstances surrounding Noviello’s death remain unclear. He was later discovered unconscious in the jail and pronounced dead. This tragic incident makes him the ninth person to die in ICE custody this year, and the fourth to die in a Florida facility in that same time. His family has long sounded alarms about the lack of medical care he has received while in detention.
Noviello legally immigrated to the United States back in 1988 and had an H-1B work visa. Three years later, he won permanent residence. His lawyer, Daniel Leising, expressed his disbelief over the situation, stating, “was just working, nothing out of the ordinary, no violations, nothing else. There was nothing on my mind that would’ve created any circumstance where Johnny Noviello would have been a danger to anyone.”
In the face of this increasing pressure and oversight, ICE responded by once again promising to prioritize the well-being of people in its custody. The agency stated, “ICE remains committed to ensuring that all those in its custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments.” It further emphasized that “at no time during detention is a detained illegal alien denied emergent care.”
Noviello’s family and advocates are now calling for a new, independent investigation into his death. They are searching for information regarding the circumstances of his death. They query if he was given adequate medical treatment during his time in custody.