Ohio officials and political candidates have reacted to the death of Pierre Damas Bel, a 20-year-old Haitian immigrant and Wright State University student, who died by apparent suicide on August 31 after being bullied due to his immigration status and a required ankle monitor. Damas Bel, a Springfield High School graduate, walked into Interstate 70 traffic at the time of his death.
His father stated that Damas Bel had told him on August 31 that he hadn't been "feeling okay mentally because of the bullying" he was receiving for the ankle monitor. Damas Bel’s social media posts conveyed his desire to pursue education in the U.S. and build a future, but also expressed "a feeling of shame and humiliation" while wearing the GPS monitor on his leg. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) required the tracking anklet after the Trump administration eliminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian immigrants.
State Rep. Munira Abdullahi, a Democrat representing Columbus, spoke at a vigil for Damas Bel held on September 2 at Columbus City Hall. Abdullahi related to Damas Bel's aspirations and criticized the immigration system, saying, "We can not accept an immigration system that loses sight of people over paperwork and political dogma." She called for an end to "cruelties" and the release of those in ICE detention. Her fellow Columbus Democrat, State Rep. Latyna Humphrey, released a statement honoring Damas Bel and noted the "devastating toll" the immigration process had on him, emphasizing that "there are real human beings behind every immigration policy." The Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus issued a joint statement calling Damas Bel’s death "a direct result of this administration’s inhumane and racist immigration policies."
Democratic Ohio U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman stated his office "reached out directly to the Department of Homeland Security to end the use of ankle monitors on our Haitian neighbors who have done nothing wrong." In a letter dated September 3, Landsman specifically mentioned Damas Bel while urging the Department of Homeland Security to "reconsider the policy of requiring former TPS holders with no criminal history to wear ankle monitors." The letter asserted that the U.S. is "wasting time, money, and lives targeting good, law-abiding people." Landsman also noted that the U.S. House has passed legislation to extend temporary protections for Haitians for three years, but the U.S. Senate has not addressed the measure.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine had previously expressed disagreement with the decision to end TPS for Haitians in Springfield, calling it a "misguided and wrong policy" that "will hurt us in the long run." In comments on September 1, DeWine questioned if mass deporting people like Damas Bel is "what we want done, to see people like this being picked up and facing deportation." However, DeWine also stated he felt the Trump administration "has done a very good job with regard to the Southern border."
Federal immigration officials have encouraged Haitians to "self-deport," even though the U.S. Department of State maintains a Level Four "Do Not Travel" advisory for Haiti due to risks including crime, kidnapping, terrorism, unrest, and limited healthcare. At the time of Damas Bel’s death, more than 40 Haitians living in Springfield had already been detained by ICE.
Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Sherrod Brown echoed Gov. DeWine's stance, stating in a Substack post that the decision to suspend TPS for the Haitian community "was wrong." Incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Jon Husted did not release a statement on Damas Bel but told the Springfield News-Sun on September 3 that his office plans to help those whose TPS was revoked explore legal methods to remain in the country, while also upholding "the rule of law." Democratic candidate for governor Dr. Amy Acton said she was "devastated by the tragic passing" and affirmed that "everyone in Ohio deserves to feel safe and to be treated with dignity." Acton added that "we can uphold the rule of law without creating chaos and fear in our communities." Her comments on immigration enforcement have previously conflicted with Ohio Democratic Party stances, as she would not prevent local law enforcement from working with federal authorities. Republican candidate for governor Vivek Ramaswamy did not comment on Damas Bel, but has previously called the Trump administration’s general mass deportation policy "pragmatic." In a 2024 Springfield town hall, Ramaswamy blamed "federal policies" for the presence of Haitian migrants and supported mass deportation, suggesting prioritization of those most likely to assimilate, according to coverage by WSYX.