Who Was Pierre Damas Bel? Father Says Ohio Student Felt 'Treated Like an Animal' Over ICE Ankle Monitor

Pierre Damas Bel was a driven 20-year-old university student, varsity athlete and aspiring doctor who died on an Ohio highway.

The Wright State University freshman died after entering traffic on Interstate 70 in Springfield, following weeks in which his family said he had experienced distress over an electronic ankle monitor fitted by federal immigration authorities. His death remains under investigation.

Who Was Pierre Damas Bel?

Born in Haiti, Bel moved to the United States in 2024 to join his parents in Ohio, after instability worsened in his home country. He settled in Springfield, where he became a high-achieving student and athlete.

Bel graduated from Springfield High School with honours and played as the co-captain of the varsity soccer team. He was also a cadet in the Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps.

He later secured a scholarship to Wright State University. His Instagram bio indicated that he was studying physiology and neuroscience in preparation for medical school.

His family and local advocates described him as hardworking and ambitious, viewing higher education as a path towards a meaningful career.

ICE said Bel had entered the United States with government permission through the CBP One system and later became involved in immigration proceedings.

Ohio Student Felt 'Treated Like an Animal'

ICE confirmed that Bel was fitted with a GPS ankle monitor on 29 July while his immigration proceedings continued.

His father, Pierre Ronal Bel, said the device left his son feeling 'treated like an animal'. He said Bel asked ICE to remove the monitor because he felt embarrassed and humiliated wearing it around fellow students.

According to CNN, Bel told his father: 'Dad, I felt humiliated ... Everyone got uniforms, except for me, because of the bracelet.'

In a 30 July Instagram post, Bel wrote that he had come to the United States to pursue his education, not 'to commit a crime or hurt anyone'. He said walking with a GPS monitor brought 'a feeling of shame and humiliation' he had never imagined experiencing.

Bel also questioned how he was expected to play college sports with the device on his leg.

His father said Bel had reported being bullied and called a criminal. Those allegations represent the family's account and have not been independently established as the cause of his death.

The ICE and TPS Context

Bel's death came after changes to TPS protections affecting Haitian immigrants in the United States. According to CBS News, his situation unfolded as protections under Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, faced major changes affecting hundreds of thousands of Haitians.

An ICE spokesperson declined to comment on the cause of Bel's death while the investigation remains ongoing.

'ICE does not comment on the cause of death while that investigation is pending, and we will not speculate about unverified claims regarding other individuals,' the spokesperson said.

They added that ICE will continue to 'use detention or alternatives to detention as needed [for] those illegal aliens who stay in violation of the law.'

Death Remains Under Investigation

The Ohio State Highway Patrol said Bel parked his vehicle on the shoulder of Interstate 70.

Bel's family has described the death as suicide and linked his distress, at least in part, to his immigration circumstances and the ankle monitor. Authorities have not publicly classified his death as suicide, and the investigation remains active.

If you or someone you know is experiencing mental or emotional distress or is considering self-harm, please reach out for help. You can contact 988 in the US and Canada to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or visit 988lifeline.org. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7. In the UK, you can contact Samaritans on 116 123.