A 31-year-old Haitian asylum seeker died in Pittsburgh days after being released from local jail custody and enrolled in a federal immigration monitoring program, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding her final days.
Daphy Michel was found unresponsive at a bus shelter near the Monongahela Incline shortly after 10 a.m. on March 2, according to authorities. Maintenance workers discovered her lying on the ground beneath the Smithfield Street Bridge and alerted police.
Officers from Port Authority Police attempted lifesaving measures, including CPR, an automated external defibrillator (AED), and Narcan, before Michel was transported to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in critical condition. She later died, with a doctor informing family members that the cause was cardiac arrest.
Family Seeking Answers
Michel’s brother, Carlo Michel, said he was expecting news that his sister had been released following the dismissal of criminal charges. Instead, he received a call from the hospital informing him of her death.
Court records show Michel had been held at the Washington County Jail for nearly six months on a $10,000 bond after a neighbor reported that she was experiencing mental health episodes in September. Her case involved two misdemeanor charges for harassment and threats.
Her preliminary hearing was continued multiple times while she awaited a mental health evaluation. On Feb. 26, a judge dismissed the charges.
Transfer to ICE Monitoring Program
According to the Washington County Public Defender’s Office, Michel had an immigration detainer placed on her file by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), meaning the agency requested notification before she was released from jail.
After the charges were dismissed, Michel was transferred to ICE custody and transported to the agency’s enforcement office in Pittsburgh.
ICE confirmed that she was enrolled in its Alternatives to Detention Program, which allows certain noncitizens with pending immigration proceedings to remain in the community under supervision rather than being held in detention.
Under the program, Michel was reportedly placed on electronic monitoring through the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP), which often involves the use of ankle monitors and regular reporting requirements.
Immigration and civil rights attorney Joseph Murphy, who is working with Michel’s family, said private contractors typically manage the electronic monitoring process for individuals enrolled in the program.
Timeline Remains Unclear
Authorities have not fully explained the timeline between Michel’s release into ICE supervision and the discovery of her body days later.
Family members and legal advocates say questions remain about how Michel ended up at the bus shelter and whether adequate support was provided after her release.
Michel lived roughly an hour away from the ICE office in Pittsburgh.
Immigration Status
Records show Michel entered the United States legally on Dec. 14, 2022, after being granted humanitarian parole at a port of entry. She had a pending immigration case and was scheduled to appear before a judge in Florida on April 16.
Officials said a full autopsy and toxicology report could take several weeks to complete as investigators determine the precise circumstances surrounding her death.
The case has drawn attention from immigration advocates and legal observers as questions continue about the handling of asylum seekers who are released under federal monitoring programs while awaiting immigration court proceedings.
