Haitian woman perishes during ICE supervision at Florida detention center.
Rewritten Article:
SAD NEWS FROM MIAMI - A 44-year-old woman named Marie Blaise, who'd been under Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody since February, tragically passed away last Friday at the Broward Transitional Center in Deerfield Beach.
The news of her demise sent shockwaves through the community. The cause of her death is still under investigation by ICE.
One of the detainees at the center shed some light on the final moments of Marie. According to this individual, Marie had been complaining about chest pains on the day of her demise. Her blood pressure measured 156 at one point, and she was given some pills and told to rest. However, things took a turn for the worse as she started shaking and screaming, "My chest! My chest!" a short while later.
ICE reported that Marie was declared dead at 8:35 p.m.
Marie had been held at the Broward center, which belongs to Geo Group, since April 5. ICE took her into custody on Feb. 14, after they stopped her as she was about to board a flight to Charlotte from Saint Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She didn't have a valid immigrant visa at the time.
Guerline Jozef, executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, an advocacy group, voiced concerns about such incidents. Jozef stated that people with legal protections from deportation, like those with Temporary Protected Status, are being wrongly detained and transferred to ICE, even though they're already in the U.S.
Haiti's treatment of Haitians locked up in U.S. immigration detention centers has been a matter of concern in Haiti itself. Le Nouvelliste, Port-au-Prince's newspaper, reported the case of a prominent doctor, Delange Augustin, who was taken into ICE custody after a mental breakdown on a flight from Atlanta to Miami on March 10.
Augustin, 31, continues to be held at Robert A. Deyton Detention Facility in Lovejoy, Georgia. His sister claimed he remains "unjustly detained with his critical mental health needs unaddressed." During the flight, Augustin experienced confusion, hallucinations, and erratic behavior. These symptoms were misdiagnosed by the crew and passengers as "spirit possession" or anxiety.
ICE's press release on Blaise's death states: "Detained individuals receive comprehensive medical care, including screenings, 24-hour emergency care, and ongoing treatment throughout their stay."
Insight:
Marie Blaise's death occurred at the Broward Transitional Center, which belongs to the Geo Group. She was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Feb. 12, 2024, and was in ICE custody from Feb. 14 onwards. The cause of her death is under investigation, and her medical history is yet to be disclosed. ICE has stated that comprehensive medical care is provided to all individuals in custody. This case follows ICE's standard procedures for in-custody deaths. However, specific medical documentation related to Blaise has not been released publicly yet.
- The shocking death of Marie Blaise, a 44-year-old woman, at the Broward Transitional Center has raised concerns about the health and wellness, including mental health, of people under Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody.
- Despite being under the care of Geo Group, Marie Blaise tragically passed away on Friday at the Broward Transitional Center, with her cause of death still under investigation by ICE.
- Marie, originally from Saint Croix, was detained by ICE after misdiagnosed symptoms during a flight were mistaken for spiritual possession or anxiety.
- The occurrence of Marie Blaise's death coincides with the ongoing issue of politics surrounding the treatment of individuals under ICE custody, with specific focus on protection for mental health and therapies and treatments.
- In the broader context of news, this event sheds light on the general news and crime and justice sectors, as it highlights the need for scrutiny and accountability in ensuring comprehensive medical care for people in custody.
- The case of Marie Blaise serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of proper healthcare provisions for detainees, showcasing the interconnectivity between science, health, and wellness in detention facilities.
