Fact Check: "Johnny Noviello, 49, died in ICE custody after nearly 40 years in the U.S."
What We Know
Johnny Noviello, a 49-year-old Canadian citizen, died in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on June 26, 2025. He was found unresponsive at the Bureau of Prisons Federal Detention Center in Miami, Florida, around 1 p.m. and was pronounced dead shortly thereafter by the Miami Fire Rescue Department (source-1). Noviello had entered the United States in 1988 and became a lawful permanent resident in 1991 (source-2). His death marks him as the 10th individual to die in ICE custody in 2025 and the fourth in Florida (source-4).
Noviello was detained pending removal proceedings due to a conviction for racketeering and drug trafficking, for which he was sentenced to 12 months in prison in October 2023 (source-6). He was arrested by ICE on May 15, 2025, after violating U.S. drug laws (source-1).
Analysis
The claim that Johnny Noviello died in ICE custody after nearly 40 years in the U.S. is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The timeline provided by ICE and corroborated by news reports indicates that he had been living in the U.S. since 1988, which aligns with the claim of "nearly 40 years" (source-2, source-4).
The circumstances surrounding his death are currently under investigation, and while ICE stated that medical staff responded immediately with CPR and defibrillation, the cause of death remains undetermined (source-6). The reliability of the sources reporting on this incident, including major news outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post, lends credibility to the information presented. These outlets are known for their journalistic standards and fact-checking protocols.
However, it is important to note that the context of his detention and the broader implications of ICE's practices under the Trump administration may introduce bias in how the situation is reported. Nevertheless, the factual elements regarding Noviello's death and his immigration status are consistent across multiple reports.
Conclusion
The claim that Johnny Noviello, 49, died in ICE custody after nearly 40 years in the U.S. is True. The evidence from multiple reliable sources confirms that he was a long-term resident of the U.S. and that he died while in ICE custody, pending removal proceedings due to criminal convictions.
