A tragic death sparked a firestorm online, fueled by accusations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Claims rapidly spread alleging ICE abandoned a Haitian asylum seeker, leaving her vulnerable and ultimately contributing to her death days later.
The Department of Homeland Security moved quickly to dismantle the narrative, asserting that ICE played no role in the woman’s passing. DHS provided a detailed account of her release, emphasizing it was conducted safely and with resources provided.
Daphy Michel, 31, arrived in the United States in December 2022, seeking asylum. Her journey took a difficult turn when she was arrested in Washington County, Pennsylvania, facing charges of terroristic threats and harassment.
Those charges were dismissed in February, but her encounter with the legal system didn’t end there. ICE subsequently encountered Michel and enrolled her in the Alternatives to Detention program, a system utilizing electronic monitoring.
Michel was fitted with an ankle monitor and released from the ICE office in Pittsburgh. DHS officials stated she was released with all her possessions, including a fully charged phone, on a clear day in a location with easy access to public transportation.
While her immigration case progressed, she remained under electronic supervision. Three days after her release, on March 2nd, Michel was discovered unresponsive at a Pittsburgh bus stop and tragically pronounced dead.
The exact cause of death remains unconfirmed, with initial reports suggesting a possible cardiac arrest. Toxicology results are still pending, leaving many questions unanswered.
Despite the lack of evidence linking her death to her detention, the narrative quickly shifted online, with accusations leveled against ICE. Viral posts painted a picture of negligence and callous disregard for Michel’s well-being.
DHS directly addressed one of these viral posts, clarifying that Michel died three days *after* her release from ICE custody. Crucially, they emphasized that ICE was not informed of her death until it appeared in media reports.
On March 3rd, ICE received a tamper alert from Michel’s ankle monitor. Agents were dispatched to her last known GPS location – the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office.
What followed was a frustrating obstruction. Local staff at the medical examiner’s office refused to cooperate with federal agents, even declining to speak with them. The situation escalated, requiring the involvement of U.S. Marshals.
The Marshals were eventually granted access and recovered the severed ankle monitor, but were met with continued silence regarding Michel’s condition. No information was forthcoming from the local authorities.
ICE officials were never officially notified of Michel’s death, learning of the tragedy through news reports. This occurred despite the county’s deliberate refusal to communicate with federal law enforcement.
The facts, as presented by DHS, paint a starkly different picture than the one circulating online. Michel’s death occurred days after her release, and ICE faced significant obstacles in attempting to gather information about her fate.
