Family to Sue US Over Haitian Woman's Death at 20F After ICE Release
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Aug 2
Family to Sue US Over Haitian Woman's Death at 20F After ICE Release
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 2
Summary
A lawsuit against the United States and multiple other entities is expected within two to three weeks over the death of Daphy Michel, a 31-year-old Haitian immigrant dropped off by ICE in Pittsburgh.
Pennsylvania officials ruled in June that Michel died of hypothermia and classified the death as a homicide, saying she was a vulnerable adult with severe untreated mental illness and a significant language barrier when released on 27 February.
Surveillance images show Michel remained at a south-side bus shelter for about 24 hours with a small bag before collapsing; she was found wearing summer clothes after temperatures fell to 20F and died hours later in hospital.
ICE's parent agency had said in March it had "nothing to do with this woman's death" and noted sunny weather and a charged phone, while her lawyer says her phone plan had expired and relatives argue officers ignored obvious risks.
Pittsburgh detectives are investigating, and the case echoes a Buffalo death a week earlier in which a 56-year-old Rohingya refugee was also ruled a homicide after being left alone by US border agents.