June 27,2025
RED FM News Desk
Roughly 55 Canadians are currently being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand told CTV News on Friday.
“Our job is to ensure they’re treated fairly. That’s the role of our consular officials at Global Affairs Canada, who advocate for Canadians not just in the U.S., but worldwide,” Anand said.
ICE operations have faced growing public criticism since White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller announced plans to ramp up daily arrests to 3,000 — a significant increase from the 650 daily arrests during the first five months of Trump’s second term. These operations have sparked protests, arrests, and curfews across the U.S.
Anand’s comments came in response to questions about the recent death of Canadian citizen Johnny Noviello, 49, who died in ICE custody on June 23. She confirmed that Canadian consular officials had been in contact with Noviello since his detention by ICE on May 15. Due to privacy laws, however, she said she could not share further details.
On Thursday — the day Canadian authorities were informed of Noviello’s death — Anand said on social media that the government was urgently seeking more information from U.S. officials. ICE stated that the cause of death remains under investigation.
Noviello entered the U.S. on a visa in 1988 and became a permanent resident three years later. In October 2023, he was convicted of racketeering and drug trafficking in eastern Florida and sentenced to 12 months in prison.
In May, ICE arrested him at a probation office, charging him with removal for violating U.S. drug laws.
Anand offered her condolences to Noviello’s family.
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