Haitian Immigrant Woman Dies in ICE Custody After Detention at U.S. Virgin Islands Airport

• Immigrant Dies in ICE Custody
• Detained at Caribbean Airport
• Calls for Investigation into Jail Conditions

A Haitian woman died while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after being detained while attempting to board a flight in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Marie Ange Blaise, 44, was pronounced dead on Friday, April 25, at the Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach, Florida, ICE confirmed in an official statement.

The cause of death has not yet been disclosed and remains under investigation by the relevant authorities.

To date, ICE has not provided information regarding Blaise’s prior health conditions or the circumstances under which she died.

Detention in the Virgin Islands and Transfers Between Immigration Centers

Blaise was initially detained on February 12 by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport in Saint Croix, one of the main cities in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

She was attempting to board a flight to Charlotte, North Carolina, without having the legal documentation required to remain in the country.

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That same day, authorities issued an expedited removal order, citing her lack of a valid visa.

Two days later, she was transferred to the ICE detention center in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as part of ongoing administrative proceedings.

On February 21, Marie Ange Blaise was moved to the Richwood Correctional Center in Oakdale, Louisiana, where she remained for several weeks.

Finally, on April 5, Blaise was transferred to the detention facility in Pompano Beach, Florida, where she died nearly three weeks later.

The case has reignited criticism over the conditions faced by thousands of immigrants held in ICE detention centers across the country.

In Florida, migrant rights activists have been warning for months about overcrowding, lack of adequate medical care, and the physical and psychological deterioration of detainees.

Criticism Over ICE Detention Conditions

In March, hundreds of people protested outside the Krome North Detention Center, demanding greater transparency and an urgent review of detention protocols.

During the demonstration, organizers pointed out that at least two deaths in ICE custody have already occurred in Florida in 2025.

These numbers have heightened concerns about how immigrants in deportation proceedings are treated—especially those with preexisting medical conditions or lacking support networks.

Various organizations have called for a thorough investigation into the death of Marie Ange Blaise and for the release of medical and custody reports.

They are also demanding the implementation of more humane policies and stronger independent oversight of immigration detention centers.

Blaise’s case adds to a series of incidents that have brought scrutiny to the U.S. immigration system, particularly the prolonged detentions of individuals with limited access to healthcare or legal assistance.

While the official investigation is still underway, human rights groups insist that the lives of migrants must not be reduced to statistics.

They call for reforms that ensure humane conditions, fair legal processes, and an approach that prioritizes health, safety, and dignity for those—like Blaise—who come to the country in search of opportunity.

Calls for Transparency and Immigration Reform

ICE has not issued any additional statements following the wave of reactions prompted by Blaise’s death.

Meanwhile, the debate over immigration justice in the United States is once again gaining traction, with advocates pushing for a structural review of the detention and deportation system.

The death of Marie Ange Blaise highlights the failures of a process that, for many, results in vulnerability, uncertainty, and tragedy, reported EFE and Telemundo.