An Ohio student committed suicide because of an electronic ICE bracelet that provoked ridicule.

A 20-year-old Haitian immigrant, a freshman at Wright State University, threw himself under the wheels of a truck on August 31. Relatives say he became depressed because of the electronic ankle monitor issued to him by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in late July, writes CNN.

When Pierre Damas Bel was a high school student in Springfield, Ohio, he was passionate about football. He enjoyed participating in JROTC, a U.S. military-sponsored military training program for high school students. According to friends and family, he entered college with plans to study neuroscience and was very excited about his future.

But when the 20-year-old Haitian immigrant began his freshman year at Wright State University, ICE issued him an electronic tracking bracelet to wear on his ankle in late July. This, according to his family, plunged him into depression.

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The device prevented him from playing football, prevented him from receiving a new ROTC uniform, and led to bullying from some of his classmates.

On the morning of August 31, a student in a state of severe emotional crisis called his father via video link.

"He said, 'Dad, I'm not feeling well. I'm not quite okay... I can't get a grip on myself because of these hooligans.' Then I told him, 'Come home so we can talk,'" Father Pierre Ronal Bel recounted their conversation. "And soon after that, everything happened..."

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the 20-year-old student stepped out of his Toyota Avalon on the shoulder of Interstate 70. His family was soon informed that their son had committed suicide.

"The police came to my house and told me my son had thrown himself under a truck," his father said.

Pierre Damas was among Haitians in Ohio receiving electronic bracelets after the Trump administration terminated their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, which allowed them to legally work in the United States and protected hundreds of thousands of people across the country from deportation. Human rights activists are calling on federal authorities to stop using these devices.

"Pierre Damas died because of politics. It was our immigration policy that took his life," Pastor Carl Ruby of Central Christian Church in Springfield said at a press conference on September 1. He called on Republican lawmakers to condemn and stop the electronic monitoring program before more people take their own lives.

ICE says it will continue to use electronic bracelets

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported that Pierre Damas applied for entry into the United States in Brownsville, Texas, in March 2024 and was admitted by the Biden administration. While his immigration proceedings were ongoing, he was issued a wristband on July 29.

The man committed suicide, likely after being harassed over the bracelet. An ICE spokesperson said the Highway Patrol is continuing its investigation.

"ICE is not commenting on the cause of death until the investigation is complete, and we will not speculate on unconfirmed allegations regarding other individuals," the agency said in a statement, reiterating the administration's position on the need for undocumented immigrants to "leave the country voluntarily."

"Remaining in the country illegally while fighting deportation is a choice. Leaving with a free ticket home and a $2600 payment is also a choice," ICE stated. "ICE will continue to use detention or alternatives to detention for those unauthorized aliens who remain in the country in violation of the law."

In recent social media posts, Pierre Damas spoke about the ICE bracelet and how difficult it was for him to wear it.

The university where the young man studied commented on the bullying allegations in a statement on Facebook:

“The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority, and we remain committed to creating a university environment where every student feels safe, supported, included and accepted.”

The university's president, Sue Edwards, said the university community was shocked:

"Pierre Damas Bel was an active student with excellent academic results. He enjoyed soccer and was actively involved in classes and campus life. The University mourns Pierre's death and expresses its deepest condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time."

Social media posts described his experiences.

According to the father, on August 28, his son told him that something happened during an ROTC class at the university that greatly shocked him.

“He told me: ‘Dad, I felt humiliated… Everyone had a uniform except me because of this bracelet,’” Pierre Ronal Bel reported his son’s words.

Wright State stated that questions about the ROTC program, eligibility requirements, and uniform issuance should be directed to the U.S. Army Cadet Program Command.

A spokesperson for the US Army Cadet Program Command told CNN that the electronic bracelet was not the reason Bel was not issued a uniform. He said Pierre Damas was ineligible for enrollment in the ROTC program due to his immigration status, so he attended the classes as an elective and was not eligible for a uniform. However, the course's leadership allegedly "provided him with support."

In his social media posts, Pierre Damas wrote about the bracelet and how difficult it was for him to wear it.

"I came to this country to study. I didn't come to commit crimes or harm anyone. But now I'm walking the streets of the United States with a GPS tracker on my ankle and feeling ashamed and humiliated," he wrote in an Instagram post on July 30, which included photos from awards and gala events.

"I came here to study, build my future, and live a better life, not to be treated like a criminal. And now how am I supposed to play football with this device on my leg?"

Additionally, the student posted references from teachers at Springfield High School and co-workers at the Texas Roadhouse restaurant in Texas, which appeared to be attached to his immigration file and described his hard work and leadership qualities.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican who had previously criticized the Trump administration's decision to end TPS for Haitians, called the death of Pierre Damas a terrible tragedy. At a September 1 press conference in Springfield, community leaders and human rights advocates sharply criticized the government's treatment of Bel and other Haitians, many of whom, they say, are living in fear after their protection from deportation was revoked.

Electronic bracelets are part of a widely used ICE program known as "alternatives to detention." However, human rights advocates say that for many Haitians in Springfield, these devices are reminiscent of the painful history of slavery and shackles. The day before Pierre Damas's death, a protest march called "Free Springfield" took place in the city.

Activists estimate that hundreds of Haitians in Springfield, as well as many in the Columbus area, have received electronic bracelets over the past month.

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"Pierre Damas Bel did nothing illegal. He didn't even have any traffic tickets," assured Yola Lamarr of the Haitian Community Network. "The authorities need to understand that his blood is on their hands. There's nothing fair about putting such devices on people who have never committed a crime... This situation could have been avoided."

Yola Lamarr, a close friend of Bel's, looked shaken during a press conference in Springfield on September 1.

"Pierre shared his depressing thoughts with me after they started handing out bracelets to Haitians in Springfield," she said, fighting back tears. "Pierre Damas Bel wasn't a criminal, but he was treated like one."

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