Pierre Damas Bel’s family says immigration uncertainty, public stigma and an ankle monitor contributed to his emotional distress
By Midtown Times Staff
October 29, 2026
Content note: This article discusses suicide. Crisis-support information appears below.
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (Midtown Times) — The death of a 20-year-old Haitian college student who was being electronically monitored by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has officially been ruled a suicide, according to an Ohio death certificate completed Oct. 16.
Pierre Damas Bel died Aug. 31 after entering traffic on Interstate 70 near Springfield and being struck by a tractor-trailer. Acting Clark County Coroner Aamir Khan certified the manner of death following an investigation by the coroner’s office.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol said its separate investigation into the circumstances surrounding Bel’s death remains open.
Bel had recently graduated from Springfield High School, where he was an honors student, JROTC member and varsity soccer player. He had started classes at Wright State University and planned to study neuroscience and physiology while pursuing his interest in soccer.
Family cites emotional toll of ankle monitor
ICE placed Bel in its Alternatives to Detention program on July 29 while his immigration case remained pending. The agency required him to wear a GPS ankle monitor.
Bel had written publicly that the device caused him to feel ashamed and humiliated. He also worried that it would interfere with his ability to play soccer and participate fully in college life.
His relatives said the monitor’s stigma, immigration uncertainty and alleged teasing caused his emotional health to deteriorate. His father said Bel called shortly before his death and indicated that he was not feeling mentally well. Those statements describe the family’s understanding of his distress; the coroner’s ruling does not determine what factors caused it.
ICE defends monitoring decision
ICE previously said it would not speculate about Bel’s death while authorities were investigating. After the coroner’s ruling, the agency maintained that the highway patrol’s inquiry remains open.
The Department of Homeland Security defended the decision to monitor Bel, saying he entered the United States through a CBP One appointment in March 2024 and was released while his immigration proceedings continued.
DHS has rejected allegations that ICE was responsible for his death. Federal officials said ankle monitors are among several tools used to ensure that people attend immigration hearings.
Bel’s death has intensified debate over the use of electronic monitoring in immigration enforcement and the emotional consequences such devices may have for young people seeking to study, work and establish their lives in the United States.
If you are in the United States and experiencing suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Support is available through online chat at https://988lifeline.org/chat/.
