Investigation underway after Haitian woman dies at South Florida ICE facility

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. – An probe is underway aft Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said a Haitian pistillate died astatine a South Florida national facility.

Marie Ange Blaise, 44, died astatine the Broward Transitional Center successful Pompano Beach connected Friday.

Rev. Luke Harrigan, who ministers astatine the low-security facility, said helium was determination implicit the play and said different inmate told him that Blaise was complaining of not feeling good and soon aft witnessed her death.

“Her person said, ‘Something’s hurting, travel to my room,’ and arsenic soon arsenic she got successful there, she said, ‘OK, thing is hurting me,” Harrigan said. “And she collapsed and died.”

“Nobody knows precisely how,” helium said.

Immigration authorities accidental Blaise came to the U.S. from Haiti illegally without parole.

On Feb. 12, she was met by officials astatine an airdrome successful the U.S. Virgin Islands and was aboriginal transferred to facilities successful San Juan, Puerto Rico and Oakdale, Louisiana, earlier being taken to the BTC connected April 5.

Records amusement 2 different inmates died successful ICE custody astatine the Krome Detention Center successful southwest Miami-Dade.

U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Florida, who precocious toured that facility, said successful a connection to Local 10 News that she is “heartbroken and furious” implicit Blaise’s death.

“How galore much stories bash we person to perceive of immigrants being mistreated astatine these achromatic spread detention centers?” she asked. “When are we going to get answers?”

ICE officials said the origin of Blaise’s decease is nether investigation.

In the meantime, Harrigan said his extremity is to assistance Blaise’s loved ones program a funeral.

“We’re going to hide her dignity and respect (and) bash immoderate we can,” helium said.

Harrigan said Blaise’s decease is bringing South Florida’s Haitian assemblage together.

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