Ohio Governor Mike DeWine described the death of Pierre Damas Bel, a 20-year-old Haitian college student, as a "horrible, horrible tragedy." Bel died on Monday after walking into oncoming traffic on Interstate 70 in what his family believes was a suicide. The incident occurred after Bel lost his Temporary Protected Status (TPS) protections and was subsequently required to wear an ankle monitor.
Bel's father told The Haitian Times that his son was "distraught" in the weeks leading up to his death, feeling "ashamed and humiliated" by the ankle monitor. Bel had expressed his distress on social media, stating he came to the U.S. to pursue education and was not a criminal. He also noted that the monitor prevented him from participating in college sports and even receiving his Junior ROTC uniform.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Bel parked his vehicle on the shoulder of I-70 before entering traffic. The incident remains under investigation, and the patrol has declined to comment on the cause of death pending the investigation.
Springfield pastor Carl Ruby, who is with the family, stated that they believe Bel took his own life as a result of immigration policies. "I wish President Trump could hear the mom’s wails. The family wants people to know that this was a suicide and they want people to know that President Trump, [White House deputy chief of staff] Stephen Miller, and [Homeland Security Secretary] Markwayne Mullin’s inhumane immigration policies made this happen," Ruby said.
Bel was a student at Wright State University and had previously been unable to play soccer at Wittenberg University due to the ankle monitor. Wright State University President Sue Edwards issued a statement calling Bel "an active honors student who was passionate about soccer" and extended condolences to his family and friends.
Many Haitian immigrants in the Springfield area have lived in the U.S. for years, unable to return to Haiti due to ongoing violence and poverty. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision allowed the administration to end Haiti's TPS designation, potentially affecting approximately 350,000 Haitian nationals. ICE stated it does not comment on pending investigations or speculate on unverified claims.