Families and advocates gathered in Downtown Austin to remember a Haitian college student and share stories of their loved ones in ICE custody.
AUSTIN, Texas — Families with loved ones in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody gathered outside the federal courthouse in Downtown Austin on Thursday evening for a community vigil highlighting the experiences of immigrants and their families.
The vigil honored 20-year-old Pierre Damas Bel, a Haitian college student in Ohio who was wearing an ICE mandated ankle monitor.
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Police said Bel died after stepping into traffic Monday. His family said wearing the ankle monitor took an emotional toll on him. ICE told CNN it would not comment on Bel’s cause of death while the investigation remains active.
Organizers discussed Bel’s story at Thursday’s event.
Alejandro Caceres, a volunteer organizer with the Austin Sanctuary Network, said it was important to highlight immigration detention cases in Central Texas.
“Today, we’re focusing on hosting a vigil for the young man, the young Haitian immigrant who took his own life after he was forced to wear an ankle monitor,” Caceres said. “But also just sharing stories of the cases that are happening here locally.”
One of those cases involves Maria Vasquez, who lives in Austin and said her son remains in custody at the T. Don Hutto Detention Center in Taylor.
KVUE reached out to ICE for information about her son’s case but had not received a response as of Thursday evening.
Caceres said there is still a paralyzing fear throughout the Hispanic community.
“Most of the members of our organization, they don’t want to work,” Caceres said. “They’re saying that it’s fearful to even go to work.”
He said the organization’s next vigil is scheduled for Sept. 19.