Pompano Beach, Florida – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has confirmed the death of a 44-year-old Haitian woman, Marie Ange Blaise, who died while in immigration custody at the Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach, Florida. Blaise was pronounced dead by medical personnel at the facility on Friday, April 25. Her death is currently under investigation by ICE, with oversight from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other relevant agencies.
According to an official statement released by ICE, the agency has formally notified the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other federal authorities of the incident. Additionally, an email notification was sent to the Haitian Consulate in Miami to inform officials of Blaise’s death.
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ICE reported that Blaise had entered the United States at an unspecified location and date. She came into contact with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in February while attempting to board a flight to North Carolina from the U.S. Virgin Islands. CBP subsequently issued a notice of expedited removal, a process often applied to undocumented individuals apprehended near the border or without valid entry documents.
Following the CBP action, Blaise was transferred to ICE custody at a staging facility in Puerto Rico. She was initially detained at a correctional facility in Louisiana before being moved to the Broward Transitional Center in Florida, where she ultimately passed away.
The Broward Transitional Center is operated by the private prison contractor Geo Group Inc., under an ICE contract. According to Geo Group’s official website, the facility is designated as a “transitional center for short-term non-criminal and low-security detainees.” It houses individuals awaiting immigration proceedings or removal.
The circumstances surrounding Blaise’s death have prompted renewed scrutiny of detention conditions at ICE facilities, particularly those operated by private entities. Advocates for immigrant rights have long raised concerns about the medical care, oversight, and transparency within the U.S. immigration detention system.
As of this publication, ICE has not released specific details regarding the cause of death or Blaise’s medical history while in custody. The agency stated that further information would be provided as the investigation proceeds.
