Haitian college student in Ohio dies by apparent suicide after losing TPS status, family says

Pierre Damas Bel, a Haitian-born college student in Ohio, died by apparent suicide after losing his Temporary Protected Status (TPS) protections. His family believes the stress of wearing an ankle monitor and the threat of deportation, stemming from the Trump administration’s termination of Haiti’s TPS designation, led to his death. Bel had spoken out about the shame and humiliation he felt due to the ankle monitor, which prevented him from participating in college sports and ROTJ.

• Pierre Damas Bel, a 20-year-old Haitian-born college student in Ohio, died on Monday after walking into oncoming traffic.
• His family believes his death was a suicide, directly linked to the loss of his Temporary Protected Status (TPS) protections after the Trump administration ended Haiti’s designation.
• Bel was reportedly distraught and wearing an ankle monitor, which he felt led to shame and humiliation, impacting his college activities.
• His father and a local pastor explicitly blamed President Trump’s immigration policies and specific administration officials for Bel’s death.