Barry Ellsworth
June 27, 2025•Update: June 27, 2025
TRENTON, Canada
A Canadian man has died while in custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency said Thursday.
“Johnny Noviello, a 49-year-old citizen of Canada in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was pronounced deceased by the Miami Fire Rescue Department June 23 at 1:36 p.m.,” it said in a statement, adding “the cause of death is still under investigation.”
Noviello was detained at the Bureau of Prisons Federal Detention Center “pending removal proceedings when he was found unresponsive June 23 at 12:54 p.m.,” the ICE release said.
“Medical staff responded immediately and began administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation, automated external defibrillator shock and called 911.”
According to ICE, Noviello entered the US on Jan. 2, 1988 under a legal visa status and became a lawful permanent resident on Oct. 24, 1991.
On Oct. 12, 2023, he was convicted in Volusia County, Florida for racketeering, trafficking in Oxycodone, trafficking in illegal drugs, trafficking in Hydrocodone, and the unlawful use of a two-way communication device to facilitate the commission of a crime and sentenced to 12 months in prison.
ICE agents arrested Noviello in May, and he was being detained “pending removal proceedings,” according to the release.
The Canadian consulate was notified of the death, the release said, but to date, Global Affairs has not commented on the incident.
The death came as ICE has been making sweeping arrests nationwide under orders from President Donald Trump, who is pursuing his goal of deporting illegal immigrants.
