Pierre Damas Bel dies by suicide following ankle monitor placement

Pierre Damas Bel, a 20-year-old Haitian immigrant from Springfield, Ohio, died by suicide following the imposition of an ankle monitor due to his immigration status. Bel, a Wright State University freshman who had recently received a $10,000 academic scholarship, was impacted by changes to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian immigrants.

A fundraiser has been established to support Bel’s family with funeral expenses, counseling, and potential future college costs for his siblings. The case has drawn attention to the use of electronic monitoring by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its psychological impact on individuals facing immigration uncertainty.