DOSSIER: Marie Ange Blaise¶

Death in ICE Custody at Broward Transitional Center¶

Classification: Internal Research Findings
Date: 2026-02-11
Published by: Mortui Vivos Docent Intelligence Project
Subject: Marie Ange Blaise, 44, citizen of Haiti
Died: April 25, 2025, 8:35 p.m.
Location: Broward Transitional Center, Pompano Beach, Florida
Facility Operator: GEO Group, Inc. (publicly traded, Boca Raton, FL)
Overall Confidence: HIGH (5+ independent sources, medical examiner records, congressional testimony, ICE official statement, witness accounts)

PRIVATE CONTRACTOR: GEO GROUP

Facility operated by GEO Group, Inc. (NYSE: GEO) — the largest for-profit prison corporation in the world. GEO Group operates Broward Transitional Center where Blaise died amid severe understaffing ($20M+ annual contract, one doctor for 500+ detainees). See Infrastructure for full contractor profiles.

Executive Summary¶

Marie Ange Blaise, a 44-year-old Haitian woman with no criminal history, died of atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease on April 25, 2025, while detained at the Broward Transitional Center (BTC) in Pompano Beach, Florida. She had been in ICE custody for 72 days.

The circumstances of her death are contested. ICE claims Blaise repeatedly refused blood pressure medication. Her son states she was denied access to a physician on the day she died while experiencing chest pains. An eyewitness detainee told Human Rights Watch that guards ignored calls for help and medical response was delayed by at least eight minutes after her collapse. The Broward County Medical Examiner ruled the death "natural."

Blaise was the third person to die in ICE custody in South Florida in four months, part of a catastrophic national trend: 2025 became ICE's deadliest year in two decades, with approximately 31-32 detainee deaths -- nearly triple the 2024 total. Her death triggered congressional investigations, a facility visit by two Florida congresswomen, and demands for accountability from the Haitian Bridge Alliance and the full Florida Democratic Congressional delegation.

Key systemic failures identified: a single doctor serving 500+ detainees, overcrowded conditions with detainees sleeping on floors, 911 calls from the facility doubling year-over-year, and 80% of BTC detainees having no criminal record.

Every. Human. Matters.

1. Victim Profile¶

Field	Detail
Full Name	Marie Ange Blaise (also rendered Marie-Ange Blaise)
Age	44
Nationality	Haitian
Criminal History	None
Known Family	Son: Kervens Blaise
Medical Conditions	Hypertension, chronic kidney disease (diagnosed March 5, 2025), anxiety disorder
Immigration Status	Entered U.S. without admission or parole (date unknown); encountered by CBP Feb. 12, 2025
Detention Duration	72 days (Feb. 14 to April 25, 2025)

Background¶

Marie Ange Blaise was a Haitian national who entered the United States at an unknown date and was living in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She had no criminal record. On February 12, 2025, Customs and Border Protection encountered her at the Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport in Saint Croix, USVI, while she was attempting to board a flight to Charlotte, North Carolina. CBP issued her a Notice of Expedited Removal, charging inadmissibility as an immigrant without a valid immigrant visa.

Her journey into the U.S. and the circumstances that led her to leave Haiti are not detailed in available sources, though Haiti's ongoing political collapse, gang violence, and humanitarian crisis provide obvious context for Haitian migration during this period.

2. Detention Timeline¶

Date	Event	Source
Feb. 12, 2025	CBP encounters Blaise at Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport, Saint Croix, USVI, attempting to board flight to Charlotte, NC. Notice of Expedited Removal issued. Border agents transport her to a hospital in St. Croix for elevated blood pressure.	ICE press release; WLRN
Feb. 14	Transferred to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Miami at San Juan staging facility, Puerto Rico.	ICE press release
Feb. 21	Transferred to ERO New Orleans custody at Richwood Correctional Center, Oakdale, Louisiana.	ICE press release
March 5	Physician visit at Louisiana facility. Instructed on diet, exercise, medication compliance. Follow-up scheduled. Chronic kidney disease diagnosed. Lab results show decreased kidney function.	WLRN; medical examiner report
March (multiple dates)	ICE report claims Blaise refused blood pressure medication nine times following March 5 physician visit.	ICE detainee death report; WLRN
April 1	Reports recurring swollen tonsils and itchy eyes.	Local10; medical examiner report
April 5	Transferred to Broward Transitional Center, Pompano Beach, Florida (ERO Miami).	ICE press release
April 7	Medical staff at BTC increase blood pressure medication; request further tests.	WLRN
~April 14	Another physician advises medication adherence, exercise, and dietary changes.	WLRN
April 15	ICE records note Blaise "not complying with blood pressure medication."	WLRN
April 25, ~2:00 p.m.	Detainee reports Blaise complaining of chest discomfort.	Broward County Sheriff's Office detective report
April 25, 5:54 p.m.	Son Kervens Blaise speaks with his mother by phone. She complains of chest pains and abdominal cramps. He states she asked detention staff to see a physician and "they refused her."	Medical examiner investigation report
April 25, ~6:00 p.m.	Blaise takes 75mg Hydralazine (blood pressure medication).	Medical examiner report
April 25, ~8:00 p.m.	Blaise takes 10mg Norvasc (amlodipine -- blood pressure medication).	Medical examiner report
April 25, shortly after 8:00 p.m.	Blaise moves from her room to a common area. Other detainees notice she "looked different, she seemed off and even moved aggressively towards one of the detainees but then stopped, she made no physical contact." Blaise collapses and becomes unresponsive.	Medical examiner report
April 25, ~8:35 p.m.	Medical emergency reported. Detainees press alert button.	Multiple sources
April 25, ~8:43 p.m.	Medical provider arrives (approximately 8 minutes after collapse, per eyewitness "Rosa").	Human Rights Watch via WLRN
April 25, 8:45 p.m.	911 called (per 911 dispatch records).	WLRN (July 2025 911 analysis)
April 25, 8:51 p.m.	EMS (Broward Sheriff's Office Fire Rescue) arrives.	WLRN
April 25, ~9:03 p.m.	Marie Ange Blaise pronounced dead. AED and CPR administered but unsuccessful.	Multiple sources
April 26	Autopsy performed by Dr. Yanel De Los Santos, Broward County Medical Examiner's Office.	Sun-Sentinel; Local10
April 29	ICE publishes "Detainee Death Notification" press release.	ICE.gov
July 24	Autopsy report signed. Cause of death: atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease. Manner: natural.	Sun-Sentinel; Local10

3. Medical Care Analysis¶

The Core Dispute: Refused Care vs. Denied Care¶

This is the critical contested question of the case. Two contradictory narratives exist:

ICE's Narrative:
- Blaise repeatedly refused prescribed blood pressure medication -- nine times in March alone at the Louisiana facility
- She received medical instruction and follow-up care at multiple facilities
- "At no time during detention is a detained illegal alien denied emergent care" (ICE statement, April 29)

Family/Witness Narrative:
- Son Kervens Blaise states his mother had been experiencing chest pains for approximately one month before her death
- On April 25, she complained of chest pains and abdominal cramps and asked to see a physician; staff "refused her" (per son's account to medical examiner investigator)
- Eyewitness "Rosa" (Honduran detainee, pseudonym used by Human Rights Watch) describes guards ignoring calls for help after Blaise collapsed, one officer approaching then walking away, and medical response taking 8 minutes with rescue team taking an additional 15-20 minutes

Complicating Factors:
- A fellow detainee also reported that Blaise complained of chest pain on April 25 but "when told she should go to medical, she refused" -- this contradicts the son's account but aligns with ICE's claims
- However: Blaise demonstrably DID take her blood pressure medications on the day she died (75mg Hydralazine at 6 p.m. and 10mg Norvasc at 8 p.m.), undermining the narrative of blanket non-compliance
- The medical examiner's report and Human Rights Watch interview "complicate" ICE's narrative (WLRN's characterization)

Medical Adequacy Assessment¶

Staffing: One doctor for 500+ detainees. Rep. Wilson described the ratio as "one nurse for every 500 detainees." Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick confirmed "one single doctor to care for hundreds of detainees." The facility refused to specify how many other healthcare professionals staffed the center.

Response Time: Even accepting the fastest reported timeline:
- 8:35 p.m. -- collapse reported
- 8:45 p.m. -- 911 called (10 minutes after collapse)
- 8:51 p.m. -- EMS arrives (16 minutes after collapse)
- 9:03 p.m. -- pronounced dead (28 minutes after collapse)

For a cardiac event, this timeline is potentially fatal. The American Heart Association recommends defibrillation within 3-5 minutes of cardiac arrest for survival rates above 50%. An AED was used, but the delay in its deployment may have been critical.

Hypertension Management at Age 44: A 44-year-old woman with hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and anxiety -- in a high-stress detention environment, shuttled across four facilities in 10 weeks -- represents a patient requiring close monitoring. Two medications (Hydralazine and Norvasc) is a reasonable but not aggressive anti-hypertensive regimen. The chronic kidney disease complicates blood pressure management. No evidence of specialist referral. No evidence of cardiac workup despite reported month-long chest pain history.

Autopsy Findings¶

Performed by: Dr. Yanel De Los Santos, forensic pathologist, Broward County Medical Examiner's Office
Date: April 26, 2025 (report signed July 24, 2025)
Cause of Death: Atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease
Manner of Death: Natural

The autopsy found cardiovascular disease related to high blood pressure and atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in artery walls). This is consistent with poorly controlled hypertension over a prolonged period. The "natural" ruling does not address whether the death was preventable with timely medical intervention.

4. Facility Analysis: Broward Transitional Center¶

Basic Information¶

Field	Detail
Name	Broward Transitional Center (BTC)
Address	3900 North Powerline Road, Pompano Beach, FL 33073
Operator	GEO Group, Inc. (NYSE: GEO)
GEO HQ	Boca Raton, Florida
Classification	Contract Detention Facility (CDF)
Opened	1998
Capacity	700-720 beds (595 men, 105 women)
ICE Contract Value	$20+ million annually
Population (2025)	630-650 daily
Intended Population	"Non-criminal and low security detainees"
Actual Population (2025)	80% have no criminal record (per Human Rights Watch)

Conditions Documented in 2025¶

Medical Staffing Crisis:
- One doctor for 500+ detainees
- Rep. Wilson: "one nurse for every 500 detainees"
- Facility refused to disclose full healthcare staffing numbers to congressional delegation
- BTC official on 911 call: "We put oxygen. We did everything we could but we're not well equipped"
- Staff reported no doctor on-site at times, only nurses available

911 Call Surge:
- January-June 2025: 88 calls to 911 (doubled from 44 in same period of 2024)
- 40% of 2025 calls were medical emergencies (vs. 20% in 2024)
- Medical emergencies included: fainting, seizures, chest pain, abdominal pain, potential miscarriage

Overcrowding:
- Detainees forced to sleep on floors (confirmed by congressional visit)
- Population at or near stated capacity

Congressional Visit (May 2, 2025):
- Reps. Wilson and Cherfilus-McCormick toured medical clinic, courtroom, cafeteria, living cells, religious areas, attorney interview rooms, recreation areas (9:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.)
- Both described being met with "hostility and evasiveness" from ICE staff
- ICE later accused congresswomen of arriving with "hostile intentions"

GEO Group: Broader Track Record¶

Largest private prison operator in the United States (80,000 beds, 99 facilities as of September 2024)
DOJ report found "systematic, egregious, and dangerous practices" including inadequate medical care at GEO facility in Mississippi
Seven deaths in less than two years at a GEO facility in Pennsylvania
March 2023 class-action lawsuit: alleged "months-long poisoning" of 1,300+ detainees at Adelanto Detention Center in California
2013 Americans for Immigrant Justice 71-page report documented substandard medical care, food poisoning, sexual assaults, refusal of legal resources, and substandard pay at BTC specifically

Prior Deaths and Complaints at BTC¶

The facility has a documented history of medical care failures predating Blaise's death. The 2013 AIJ report described a woman returned to her cell still bleeding after ovarian surgery and a male detainee passing blood for days without seeing a doctor. Detainees have attempted suicide at the facility.

5. Congressional Response¶

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20)¶

Only Haitian-American member of Congress
Called for "full, independent investigation"
Letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem: "Blaise's life mattered, and we owe it to her and to the public to understand how such a loss occurred while she was in the care and custody of the U.S. government"
After facility visit: "I left the Broward Transitional Center disappointed with what I saw and what I heard. I failed to see any evidence that there were proper procedures in place and that adequate health care was provided. One single doctor to care for hundreds of detainees -- with some being forced to sleep on the floor -- is inhumane."

Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24)¶

"Heartbroken and furious"
"I have no faith in the leadership of the facility or ICE"
"[They] don't even view the immigrants detained in there as humans"
"This death is just an example of what is going to continue to happen"
Called for government to pull contracts with GEO Group, calling them "blackhole detention centers"
Announced plans to introduce a resolution urging Congressional oversight visits to ICE facilities
"I know ICE officials clean up the facility beforehand and present a polished narrative of the facility to us, hoping I won't see the full story. But I'm here to uncover the truth."
"When I visited, the place was completely understaffed and operating with just one nurse for every 500 detainees."

Full Florida Democratic Congressional Delegation¶

May 1, 2025: Sent letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem demanding transparent investigation into Blaise's death
Called for external investigation (not ICE self-investigation)

ICE Response to Congressional Action¶

ICE Interim Field Office Director for Miami, Juan Agudelo, called allegations "categorically false" and "deliberate attempts to discredit ICE"
Claimed congresswomen arrived with "hostile intentions"
Said Congresswoman Wilson "demanded answers that are part of an ongoing investigation"

6. Pattern Analysis: South Florida Detention Death Cluster¶

Three Deaths in Four Months (January-April 2025)¶

#	Name	Age	Nationality	Date of Death	Facility	Cause
1	Genry Donaldo Ruiz-Guillen	29	Honduras	Jan. 23, 2025	Krome (hospitalized)	Complications from schizoaffective disorder; rhabdomyolysis
2	Maksym Chernyak	44	Ukraine	Feb. 20, 2025	Krome (hospitalized)	Massive stroke (likely hypertension-related)
3	Marie Ange Blaise	44	Haiti	April 25, 2025	Broward TC	Atherosclerotic/hypertensive cardiovascular disease

Systemic Failures Across All Three Deaths¶

Ruiz-Guillen: After more than a month at Krome experiencing seizures and confusion, was transferred to three different hospitals. Diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis (muscle tissue breakdown). Psychiatrist Jim Recht called the management "infuriating." Medical examiner ruled "natural causes."

Chernyak: Ukrainian war refugee who had evacuated women and children from Kyiv. Arrested over domestic violence claim his partner described as a "family misunderstanding" with language barrier. Staff took 40+ minutes to call 911 despite multiple seizures and unresponsiveness. Blood pressure elevated and rising for two weeks. On day of stroke, was treated for "intoxication" despite being in controlled facility for a month. Medical examiner ruled "natural causes." Widow planning wrongful death lawsuit.

Blaise: Chest pains for approximately one month. Son reports denied physician access on day of death. Witness reports 8-minute delay in medical response after collapse, 15-20 additional minutes for rescue team. Medical examiner ruled "natural causes."

Common Pattern: All three deaths were ruled "natural causes." Nine medical experts who reviewed the Chernyak and Ruiz-Guillen cases for the Miami Herald concluded these deaths could likely have been prevented. A previous study found 95% of detention deaths could have been prevented with adequate medical care.

National Context: 2025 -- ICE's Deadliest Year¶

Approximately 31-32 deaths in ICE custody in 2025 (nearly triple 2024's 11 deaths)
Deadliest year since 2004
December 2025 was the deadliest single month on record (7 deaths)
Detention population peaked at 68,442 in December (78% increase over Dec 2024; 140% over 41,500 stated capacity)
Facility inspections dropped 36.25% even as deaths surged
DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) suffered hundreds of staff cuts
Two detainees killed in a sniper attack at immigration facility in Dallas, Texas (September 2025)
As of January 25, 2026: six deaths already disclosed for the new year

7. Community and Advocacy Response¶

Haitian Bridge Alliance¶

Executive Director Guerline Jozef: Death reflects "systemic failure that dehumanizes immigrants" and constituted "blatant disregard for human dignity and life"
Documented that detainees were kept "handcuffed and shackled on a bus for several hours without access to a bathroom" en route to processing
Demanded: immediate independent investigation, congressional oversight, accountability for ICE and GEO Group, end to inhumane detention practices

Human Rights Watch¶

Interviewed detainees at BTC including eyewitness "Rosa"
Published findings as part of report on inhumane conditions at South Florida ICE detention centers
Documented that medical response to Blaise was severely delayed
Found that 80% of BTC detainees have no criminal record
Claimed Blaise's death violated ICE standards for humane treatment and prompt medical response

Detention Watch Network¶

Nery Lopez: "People not being taken to see a doctor...not given access to medicines"

ACLU¶

Eunice Cho: "sicker, more vulnerable people being held in immigration detention"

8. Critical Questions¶

Why was a 44-year-old woman with hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and a month of chest pain complaints not referred for cardiac evaluation? Two blood pressure medications without cardiac workup for persistent chest pain falls below standard of care.
Why did it take 10 minutes from collapse to 911 call? The gap between 8:35 p.m. (collapse/medical emergency reported) and 8:45 p.m. (911 called) is unexplained and potentially lethal for a cardiac event.
How can ICE claim Blaise "refused" medication when she demonstrably took two doses of blood pressure medication on the day she died? The medication refusal narrative appears overstated or misleading.
Who is the single doctor serving 500+ detainees, and what is their actual schedule? The facility refused to disclose healthcare staffing details to congressional investigators. Was a physician actually available on April 25?
Why were all three South Florida detention deaths in 2025 ruled "natural causes"? Nine medical experts reviewed the Chernyak and Ruiz-Guillen cases and concluded they were likely preventable. Has anyone reviewed the Blaise case with similar rigor?
Why was Blaise transferred across four facilities (St. Croix -> Puerto Rico -> Louisiana -> Florida) in 10 weeks? Each transfer disrupts continuity of care. Was this medically appropriate for a patient with chronic conditions?
What was Blaise's actual blood pressure on April 25? The medications she was taking (Hydralazine and Norvasc) suggest persistent hypertension, but no blood pressure readings from the day of death are publicly available.
Why did ICE not respond to media requests for comment after the WLRN investigation? ICE and DHS did not respond to reporter requests for comment on the conflicting accounts revealed by the medical examiner's report.
What is the status of any investigation? As of the last available reporting (August 2025), it is unclear whether any investigation beyond ICE's internal "Detainee Death Report" has been initiated. The congressional demand for external investigation appears unanswered.
Has GEO Group faced any contract consequences? Despite documented failures, the $20+ million annual contract appears unchanged. Rep. Wilson called for contract termination; there is no indication this was pursued.

9. Assessment¶

Confidence: HIGH¶

This assessment is based on 5+ independent sources including: ICE official press release, Broward County Medical Examiner autopsy report, congressional press releases from two members of Congress, investigative journalism from WLRN (multiple articles), NPR, CBS Miami, Local10, Sun-Sentinel, and advocacy documentation from Human Rights Watch and the Haitian Bridge Alliance.

Key Findings¶

Marie Ange Blaise's death was foreseeable and likely preventable. A 44-year-old woman with documented hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and weeks of chest pain complaints died of cardiovascular disease in a facility with one doctor for 500+ detainees. The medical response to her collapse was delayed by 8-10 minutes -- potentially fatal for cardiac arrest. This tracks with a broader pattern in which nine medical experts found that other South Florida detention deaths in the same period were likely preventable.

ICE's "medication refusal" narrative is contradicted by available evidence. Blaise took both of her prescribed blood pressure medications on the day she died. While the Louisiana facility documented instances of refusal, the framing of Blaise as solely responsible for her own medical deterioration is not supported by the totality of the evidence.

The facility was structurally incapable of providing adequate care. One doctor for 500+ detainees, 911 calls doubling, 40% of calls being medical emergencies, detainees on floors -- this is not a failure of an individual but of a system. The GEO Group's $20+ million annual contract was apparently not producing safe conditions.

The "natural causes" designation obscures systemic accountability. All three South Florida detention deaths in early 2025 were ruled natural. This is technically accurate (the diseases are natural) but functionally misleading: it implies the deaths were inevitable rather than potentially preventable with adequate medical care.

The political environment enabled the death. Trump administration immigration policy in early 2025 prioritized mass detention (68,442 people by December, 140% over capacity) while cutting oversight (36% fewer inspections, CRCL staff gutted). A July 2025 ICE memo mandated detention for all immigrants pending court cases, eliminating discretion to release medically vulnerable individuals. This is the structural context in which Marie Ange Blaise died.

What Happened to Marie Ange Blaise¶

Marie Ange Blaise was a Haitian woman with no criminal record who was trying to board a flight in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She was seized, issued an expedited removal order, and shuttled across four detention facilities in 10 weeks. She developed or had exacerbated hypertension and chronic kidney disease. She experienced chest pains for approximately a month. On April 25, 2025, she complained of chest pain, may or may not have been denied physician access (accounts conflict), took her blood pressure medications, collapsed, and died while guards allegedly delayed response. She was 44 years old.

She left behind a son who spoke to her less than three hours before she died.

10. Sources¶

Primary Sources¶

ICE Official Press Release -- "Haitian national in ICE custody passes away" (April 29, 2025)
https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/haitian-national-ice-custody-passes-away
Broward County Medical Examiner Autopsy Report (signed July 24, 2025) -- cited in Sun-Sentinel, Local10, WLRN
Rep. Wilson Press Release -- Congressional visit to BTC (May 2, 2025)
https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-wilson-and-congresswoman-cherfilus-mccormick-visit-ice-broward-transitional-center-following-death-of-haitian-woman-detainee
Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick Press Release -- Congressional visit to BTC (May 2, 2025)
https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-cherfilus-mccormick-and-congresswoman-wilson-visit-ice-broward

Investigative Journalism¶

WLRN -- "Conflicting reports emerge in death of Haitian woman detained by ICE in Broward" (Aug. 1, 2025)
https://www.wlrn.org/immigration/2025-08-01/haitian-ice-death-broward-blaise
WLRN -- "Haitian immigrant dies in federal custody at Broward Transitional Center" (April 29, 2025)
https://www.wlrn.org/immigration/2025-04-29/haitian-immigrant-dies-in-federal-custody-at-broward-transitional-center-report-ice-officials
WLRN -- "South Florida congresswoman wants speedy federal investigation" (May 1, 2025)
https://www.wlrn.org/immigration/2025-05-01/haitian-undocumented-immigrant-death-blaise-broward-investigation
WLRN -- "911 calls at Broward detention center double" (July 28, 2025)
https://www.wlrn.org/immigration/2025-07-28/broward-transitional-center-ice-911-immigration
WLRN -- "South Florida lawmakers condemn Trump administration" (May 2, 2025)
https://www.wlrn.org/immigration/2025-05-02/haitian-undocumented-immigrant-death-ice-broward-wilson-congress-ice
Sun-Sentinel -- "Death of woman in Broward ICE center was from heart disease" (July 30, 2025)
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/07/30/detainee-at-broward-ice-facility-died-of-heart-disease-autopsy-says/
Local10 -- "Records reveal details about Haitian ICE detainee's death" (July 29, 2025)
https://www.local10.com/news/local/2025/07/29/medical-examiner-reports-ice-detainees-cause-of-death-at-broward-transitional-center/
NPR -- "Lawmakers demand answers after a Haitian woman dies at an ICE detention center" (May 1, 2025)
https://www.npr.org/2025/05/01/nx-s1-5383108/haitian-woman-death-ice-detention
CBS Miami -- "Woman from Haiti dies in ICE custody at South Florida detention center" (April 2025)
https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/haitian-woman-dies-in-ice-custody-at-south-florida-pompano-beach-detention-center-officials-confirm/
NBC Miami -- "Haitian woman dies in ICE custody at facility in Pompano Beach" (April 2025)
https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/haitian-woman-dies-in-ice-custody-at-facility-in-pompano-beach/3602905/
Sun-Sentinel -- "Congresswomen seek answers about death at Broward ICE center" (May 2, 2025)
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/05/02/seeking-answers-about-death-at-broward-ice-center-congresswomen-say-they-encounter-hostility-and-evasiveness/

Advocacy and Human Rights¶

Haitian Bridge Alliance -- "Demands Justice and Accountability" (April/May 2025)
https://haitianbridgealliance.org/haitian-bridge-alliance-demands-justice-and-accountability-following-the-death-of-marie-ange-blaise-in-ice-custody/
Human Rights Watch -- Interviews with BTC detainees including witness "Rosa" (cited in WLRN, congressional reports)

Broader Context¶

NPR -- "2025 is the deadliest year to be in ICE custody in decades" (Oct. 23, 2025)
https://www.npr.org/2025/10/23/nx-s1-5538090/ice-detention-custody-immigration-arrest-enforcement-dhs-trump
Latin Times -- "Two Migrants Die in ICE Custody in Florida Amid Alarming Pattern" (2025)
https://www.latintimes.com/two-migrants-die-ice-custody-florida-amid-alarming-pattern-negligent-care-report-582364
Wikipedia -- "List of deaths in ICE detention"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_deaths_in_ICE_detention
Global Detention Project -- Broward Transitional Center profile
https://www.globaldetentionproject.org/countries/americas/united-states/detention-centres/706/broward-transitional-center

Facility Information¶

GEO Group -- Broward Transitional Center official page
https://www.geogroup.com/facilities/broward-transitional-center/
Wikipedia -- Broward Transitional Center
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broward_Transitional_Center

Methodology¶

Research conducted: February 11, 2026
Search queries used:
1. "Marie Ange Blaise" ICE death Haiti Broward April 2025
2. "Marie Blaise" immigration detention death Florida 2025
3. "Broward Transitional Center" death 2025
4. Frederica Wilson ICE death Broward investigation 2025
5. ICE custody death 2025 Genry Donaldo Ruiz-Guillen OR Maksym Chernyak Krome South Florida
6. GEO Group "Broward Transitional Center" conditions complaints lawsuits deaths
7. "Broward Transitional Center" autopsy "Marie Ange Blaise" medical examiner atherosclerotic cardiovascular
8. Human Rights Watch ICE detention Florida 2025 Broward Marie Blaise witness
9. ICE custody deaths 2025 total number deadliest year list fiscal year
10. "Broward Transitional Center" GEO Group contract value capacity Pompano Beach Florida

Sources accessed: 23 independent sources across ICE official statements, Broward County Medical Examiner records, congressional press releases, investigative journalism (WLRN, NPR, Sun-Sentinel, CBS, NBC, Local10), human rights organizations (HRW, Haitian Bridge Alliance, ACLU, Detention Watch Network), and reference databases (Wikipedia, Global Detention Project).

Verification: Core facts (identity, date of death, facility, cause of death) confirmed across 5+ independent sources. Contested claims (medication refusal vs. denied care) documented with all available accounts including source attribution. Timeline constructed from medical examiner investigation report, ICE records, 911 dispatch data, and witness testimony.

Confidence Assessment: HIGH. The factual framework is well-established across multiple authoritative sources. The interpretive questions (was the death preventable? was care denied?) remain contested, and this report documents all available perspectives.