Canada ‘urgently seeking more information’ on death of Canadian in ICE custody

The Canadian government is aware of the death of a Canadian citizen in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody and is “urgently seeking more information from U.S. officials.”

An ICE news release says, “Johnny Noviello, a 49-year-old citizen of Canada in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was pronounced deceased by the Miami Fire Rescue Department June 23 at 1:36 p.m.,” and that the cause of death is still under investigation.”

In a social media post, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said the Canadian government was notified of the Noviello’s death and offers her condolences to the family.

She adds that no further details will be provided at this time.

Noviello was found unresponsive on June 23, a few minutes before 1 p.m., according to the release. Medical staff at a Bureau of Prisons detention centre performed CPR and administered a defibrillator. They also called 911.

He was pronounced dead 40 minutes later.

ICE wrote the Canadian entered the U.S. with a visa on Jan. 2, 1988. He became a permanent resident three years later.

On May 15, 2025, he was arrested by ICE at a probations office and charged with removal for violating U.S. drug laws.

In October 2023, he was convicted in eastern Florida for racketeering and drug trafficking and sentenced to 12 months in prison.