A Canadian with U.S. residency has died in Florida while held by U.S. immigration officers awaiting deportation, officials confirm.
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| Photo credit _MSN |
Canadian Man Dies in U.S. Immigration Custody in Florida; Cause Under Investigation.
A 49-year-old Canadian citizen and U.S. permanent resident, Johnny Noviello, has died while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Florida, the agency confirmed on Wednesday.
Noviello was found unresponsive on Monday at the Federal Detention Center in Miami. Medical staff at the facility immediately performed CPR and used a defibrillator in an attempt to revive him before calling 911. He was pronounced dead at 1:36 p.m. local time by Miami Fire Rescue, less than an hour after being found at 12:54 p.m.
ICE stated that it notified the Canadian consulate of Noviello’s death by phone.
The cause of death remains under investigation.
Global Affairs Canada acknowledged the death, stating it was aware of the passing of a Canadian citizen in Florida and was in contact with U.S. authorities to gather further information. The department declined to provide additional details, citing privacy considerations.
The Federal Detention Center in Miami is approximately a 12-minute drive from Jackson Memorial Hospital, according to Google Maps.
In a statement, ICE said comprehensive medical care, including 24-hour emergency services and access to medical appointments, is provided to individuals from the moment they enter detention and throughout their stay.
At no time during detention is a detained individual denied emergent care, ICE said.
A more detailed report on Johnny Noviello’s death will be released to the public within 90 days, as required under U.S. law.
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Noviello had been a lawful permanent resident of the United States since 1991, after initially entering the country on a legal visa in 1988. However, ICE stated that he was facing removal proceedings due to a conviction on drug-related charges and his status as a non-immigrant overstay.
In 2023, Noviello was convicted of drug trafficking and other related offenses in Volusia County, Florida, and was sentenced to 12 months in prison, according to ICE. Following his release, he was arrested by ICE in May 2025 at a Florida Department of Corrections probation office and charged with removability due to his prior conviction.
The Trump administration had previously intensified immigration enforcement efforts, aiming to expedite the deportation of individuals charged or convicted of serious crimes, with a particular focus on cases involving drug offenses and violent crimes.
Former President Donald Trump has pledged to deport millions of individuals allegedly living in the United States without legal status.
According to Volusia County court records.
Johnny Noviello was arrested in November 2017 alongside his father, accused of selling opioid painkillers from their used auto dealership in Daytona Beach.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) alleged that Noviello obtained oxycodone, morphine, and other prescription drugs by paying associates to secure and fill prescriptions before providing the pills to him for illegal distribution.
Noviello was charged with trafficking oxycodone and other controlled substances, racketeering, and using a two-way communication device to facilitate criminal activity. He initially pleaded not guilty but later changed his plea, pleading guilty to all charges in September 2023.
In February 2025, a judge granted Noviello’s request to convert the remainder of his two-year supervised community control sentence into probation.
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