Canadian man dies mysteriously in ICE custody in Florida after decades living in US

Johnny Noviello, a 49-year-old Canadian and lawful US permanent resident, was found unresponsive at the Federal Detention Center in Miami on Monday, June 23. Medical staff administered CPR and defibrillation before the Miami Fire Rescue Department pronounced him dead at 1:36 pm local time. The cause of death remains under federal investigation.

Noviello had entered the United States on a legal visa in January 1988 and secured his green card on October 24, 1991. Court records from Volusia County show he was convicted on charges including racketeering and trafficking oxycodone and hydrocodone in October 2023. He received a 12‑month prison sentence. A judge converted the remainder of his prison term to supervised probation.

ICE arrested Noviello at a Florida Department of Corrections probation office in May 2025. Authorities moved to deport him due to his controlled-substance conviction and non-immigrant overstay. ICE spokespersons emphasize he was receiving “comprehensive medical care,” including intake screening, full health assessments, and 24-hour emergency services. They noted that “at no time during detention is a detained illegal alien denied emergent care”.


ICE has reported the incident to Congress and relevant oversight offices. By law, a comprehensive report must be released within 90 days.

Friends recall Noviello as a devoted father and soft-spoken neighbor, none expecting such a sudden loss. His long residency in Daytona Beach, Florida, added to the shock waves rippling through his community, especially among those who saw him as proof that immigrants could rebuild their lives after past mistakes.

Noviello’s death comes amid mounting concern over medical care in US detention centres. Since 2003, ICE has recorded at least 185 in-custody deaths; 2025 alone has seen four, including Noviello’s. Florida lawmakers and civil rights advocates are demanding stronger oversight, especially as Governor Ron DeSantis expands ICE facility capacity, including plans at Camp Blanding.