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Pierre Damas Bel dies in Ohio after losing TPS status
Pierre Damas Bel, a 20-year-old Haitian immigrant and honors student at Wright State University, died on Monday after walking into westbound traffic on Interstate 70 in Springfield, Ohio. His family believes his death was a suicide.
Bel had recently lost his Temporary Protected Status (TPS) following a Supreme Court decision that allowed the Trump administration to terminate the program for approximately 350,000 Haitians. Following the loss of his status, Bel was fitted with a GPS ankle monitor by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
His family and advocates report that the electronic monitoring device caused him significant shame and humiliation. Bel reportedly faced bullying from classmates at Wright State University regarding the device. His father stated that Bel felt he was being treated ‘like an animal’ and had expressed mental distress prior to the incident. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine condemned the death, calling it a ‘horrible, horrible tragedy.’
Entities
Haitian Bridge Alliance · Immigration and Customs Enforcement · Mike DeWine · Ohio State Highway Patrol · Pierre Damas Bel · Springfield, Ohio · U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement · Wright State University
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 10 SOURCES] Bel parked his vehicle on the shoulder of Interstate 70 before walking into westbound traffic. abc30.com · newrepublic.com · www.theroot.com · abc11.com · abc13.com · +4 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] Bel arrived in the U.S. in 2024 and used the CBP One app for admission. www.nbcnews.com · abc30.com
- [● 19 SOURCES] A June Supreme Court decision allowed the Trump administration to terminate Temporary Protected Status for Haitian immigrants. abc30.com · newrepublic.com · newsone.com · abc11.com · abc13.com · +13 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] Bel was depressed after losing his Temporary Protected Status. abc30.com · abc11.com · abc13.com · abc7news.com · abc7ny.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] Bel was fitted with a GPS ankle monitor by the Department of Homeland Security as part of an effort to track former TPS holders. abc30.com · abc11.com · abc13.com · abc7news.com · abc7ny.com
- [● 13 SOURCES] Bel's family believes his death was a suicide resulting from the humiliation of wearing an ICE ankle monitor and bullying at school. capitalbnews.org · newrepublic.com · www.nbcnews.com · classixphilly.com · tvone.tv · +7 more