A Pennsylvania medical examiner has ruled that the death of a Haitian asylum seeker who died days after being released from federal immigration custody was a homicide, a finding that has prompted calls for accountability and could lead to legal action against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Daphy Michel, 31, died on March 2 after she was found at a bus shelter in Pittsburgh. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office determined that her cause of death was hypothermia and classified the manner of death as homicide, meaning the death resulted from another person's actions or failure to act.
The office noted that the ruling should not be interpreted as a finding of criminal guilt.
According to the medical examiner, reported by The Guardian, Michel was a vulnerable adult suffering from untreated severe mental health issues and faced a significant language barrier when she was released from custody on February 27.
Joseph Patrick Murphy, an attorney representing Michel's family, said she had arrived at the U.S. southern border in 2022 seeking asylum and had been granted humanitarian parole. Murphy said she spent six months in a county jail after being arrested while experiencing psychiatric distress. Following her release from local custody, ICE allegedly fitted her with an ankle monitor and transported her to Pittsburgh.
"She was in September clothes and it was February," Murphy said, arguing that exposure to winter conditions led to her death. He said the family is expected to pursue a lawsuit against ICE.
The Department of Homeland Security rejected any responsibility. Spokesperson Lauren Bis said in a statement that "ICE had NOTHING to do with this woman's death" and noted that she died three days after being released. DHS said Michel had her belongings, a charged phone and access to public transportation when she left custody.
The case comes amid broader scrutiny of immigration detention practices under the Trump administration. A May report by The Marshall Project documented hunger strikes and allegations of inadequate medical care at several ICE detention centers, including facilities in New Jersey and Texas, as detainees protested prolonged confinement and living conditions.
Another analysis published by the American Immigration Council in May found that the average daily population in ICE custody had climbed to record levels, while the administration expanded detention capacity through new contracts and facilities. Critics argue that the rapid expansion of detention has outpaced available infrastructure and services, while ICE has maintained that detainees receive appropriate care and that facilities operate under federal standards.
Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato called Michel's death "a tragedy." Rep. Summer Lee, whose district includes Pittsburgh, said the death was preventable, adding that Michel "deserved care, shelter, language access, and medical support."
