So like, a Canadian guy literally died in U.S. immigration custody and the whole thing is giving major shady vibes??
His name was Johnny Noviello, 49, and he wasn’t even undocumented or anything—he had a green card since the early ’90s, okay? He moved to the U.S. in 1988 and officially became a permanent resident in 1991. He’d been living his life in Florida for literal decades.
But then in October 2023, he got convicted on some pretty serious stuff—racketeering, trafficking oxy and hydrocodone, and using an illegal communications device or whatever. He got sentenced to 12 months but only served like 4. After that, he was on probation.
Then in May 2025, he went to check in with his probation officer and boom—ICE swooped in and arrested him. They were like, “You’re deportable now,” because apparently having a drug conviction means ICE can just decide to kick you out of the country even if you’ve lived there basically your whole life.
So fast forward to June 23, and Noviello is in ICE custody at the Federal Detention Center in Miami. And then—plot twist—he’s found totally unresponsive in his cell around 12:54 p.m. The medical people on-site did CPR, used a defibrillator, called 911 and everything, but he was pronounced dead by 1:36 p.m.
And like… what even happened?? ICE hasn’t said what caused it, and the whole thing is “under investigation,” which is like, the most vague response ever??
His lawyer said Johnny had epilepsy and was on medication and that he wasn’t violent or anything. His family apparently made sure he had access to his meds. He was just a quiet, calm guy. So like, why was he even in detention?
Canada was also like, um what? The foreign affairs minister said they were urgently trying to get more info. But ICE just released a super generic statement saying everything was by the book and that the consulate was notified.
He was the ninth person to die in ICE custody this year. Four of those deaths were in Florida. Sooo yeah, it’s not looking great for ICE right now. People are saying their facilities are under-resourced, there’s not enough medical oversight, and transparency is basically nonexistent.
And honestly, the timing is super sus. He was picked up mid-May and dead by late June. That’s like… five weeks in detention and then he just dies? From what? Nobody’s saying. Did he get the care he needed? Did anyone check on his medical conditions? Was it preventable? Like, hello???
The ICE statement didn’t even mention that he had epilepsy or that his death was unexpected. Just that he died. Cool story bro!
And now his family’s grieving and still doesn’t even know what happened. And the U.S. immigration system just keeps moving on like it’s NBD.
Like, if a guy who lived in America for 30+ years with legal status can die in ICE custody with zero answers, what does that say about the system?
We’re not saying he was perfect. But did he deserve to die like this? In silence? With no transparency? With medical issues that might’ve been ignored?
We need answers. For Johnny. For everyone still stuck in that system.
Like… this isn’t okay. At all.
XOXO,
By Valley Girl News
Thinking is hot. Learning is hotter.
