Nationwide — The family of Daphy Michel, a 31-year-old Haitian immigrant who died after being released from ICE custody in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, plans to file a lawsuit over the circumstances surrounding her death. Her relatives say they are seeking answers after she was released far away from home and later died in freezing temperatures.
Michel was found unconscious near a bus shelter at Station Square on March 1. She was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office later ruled her death a homicide caused by hypothermia, according to USA Today.
Attorney Joseph Murphy, who represents members of Michel’s family, said a lawsuit against the U.S. government and other possible parties would be filed within the next few weeks. As of Aug. 3, the family had not officially filed the case, and the possible defendants had not been identified.
Michel was born in Haiti and legally entered the United States while waiting for a decision on her asylum case. Murphy said she had remained in the country beyond her authorized period while her immigration case was pending.
Months before her death, Michel was arrested in September 2025 after police in Charleroi, Washington County, responded to reports of a possible mental health crisis. A caller said she was screaming as if responding to voices and was holding a knife.
Michel spent about six months in the Washington County Jail before a judge dismissed the criminal case in February. She was later detained by ICE after her release and placed under an ankle monitor while awaiting an immigration hearing.
The Department of Homeland Security said ICE released Michel in Pittsburgh on Feb. 27. Her attorney said she was left miles away from her home in Charleroi and was wearing summer clothing when she was released.
The weather became dangerously cold around that time. The National Weather Service reported that temperatures in Pittsburgh dropped from 55 degrees to 25 degrees on the day of her release. On March 1, temperatures ranged between 20 and 38 degrees.
The medical examiner’s office said Michel was a vulnerable adult who suffered from untreated severe mental health issues and faced a significant language barrier when she left federal custody.
DHS has denied that ICE played a role in Michel’s death. The agency said she was released with her belongings, a charged phone, and access to public transportation. Officials also said ICE learned on March 3 that her ankle monitor had been tampered with.
Murphy challenged parts of the agency’s statement, saying Michel’s phone service had expired while she was in jail. He said the lawsuit would focus on the events leading up to her death and seek accountability from those involved.