Key facts
- Pierre Damas Bel, a 20-year-old Haitian student at Wright State University, died on Monday.
- Bel's death is being investigated as a suicide, occurring shortly after he lost his immigration status.
- He was reportedly required to wear an ankle monitor after the expiration of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.
- Bel's father stated his son expressed distress over bullying related to the ankle monitor before his death.
- Bel had previously posted on social media about feeling shame and humiliation due to the monitor.
A Haitian student studying at Wright State University, Pierre Damas Bel, has died in what appears to be a suicide, shortly after losing his immigration status and being required to wear an ankle monitor. The 20-year-old student reportedly died Monday morning after parking his car and intentionally walking in front of a tractor-trailer tanker on Interstate 70 in Clark County. The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the incident.
Pierre's father, Pierre Ronal Bel, stated that his son called him shortly before his death, expressing that he was 'not feeling OK mentally because of the bullying.' The father urged his son to come home, but police arrived later to report his death. Many Haitian immigrants in the Springfield area have been required to wear ankle monitors by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security following the expiration of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.
Bel had previously posted on Instagram about his arrival in the U.S. to pursue education and expressed feelings of shame and humiliation due to wearing a GPS monitor on his leg. Pastor Carl Ruby, who sat with the family, noted that Bel had been teased by fellow students at Wright State about his ankle monitor. The family and advocates have attributed the tragedy to "inhumane immigration policies" of the Trump administration, specifically mentioning President Trump, Stephen Miller, and Markwayne Mullin.
Wright State University President Sue Edwards expressed the university's heartbreak over the loss, describing Bel as an active honors student passionate about soccer. The university has made counseling and support services available to students, faculty, and staff. Experts note that while suicide is typically multifactorial, research indicates that immigration crackdowns can create significant stress for affected individuals.