The Ohio Student Association mourns the loss of Pierre Damas Bel and stands in solidarity with the students of Wright State University, the Haitian Community in Springfield, and his family, who are scrambling to fathom the hole left by a life that was taken too soon.

Pierre was a student-athlete, graduating from Springfield High School with honors as the co-captain of the varsity soccer team. He was a lieutenant in his school’s JROTC program and a member of the National Honor Society. He was a bright leader, graduating high school with a 3.8 GPA. And like many Haitians in his community, Pierre was a Temporary Protected Status holder. When the Trump administration ended the program in late July, he was forced to wear an ankle monitor. This 24-hour electronic surveillance tool was an indictment without a criminal history.

In his memory, we demand:
1) The immediate cessation of ICE operations in Springfield
2) The release of pastors Joubert Adrien and Julio Dumano
3) The restoration of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals and a pathway to permanent residence and citizenship for our Haitian neighbors
4) An immediate end to ICE’s dehumanizing and shameful practice of placing ankle monitors on people who have committed no crime, and who have done nothing but follow the rules they were given while seeking safety for their families

On his social media, Pierre posted, “I came to this country to pursue my education. I didn’t come here to commit a crime or hurt anyone. Yet now I’m walking through the streets of the United States with a GPS monitor on my leg, carrying a feeling of shame and humiliation that I never imagined I would experience.”

Pierre’s death has devastated his family, friends, and community. The remarkable outpouring of support and love from his teachers and professors is a testament to the future he could have had without the inhumane policies enacted by our federal government.

The Ohio Student Association unequivocally denounces ICE’s occupation of our communities and terrorization of Ohio residents. We will not stand by while our fellow Ohioans are under attack.

Last semester, thousands of students joined OSA’s ICE OUT protests, demanding that their universities take proactive steps to protect students from ICE. Across campuses, OSA chapters organized, gathered petition signatures, and delivered their demands directly to university administrators.

The freedom of attending college unafraid of our futures has been stolen from us yet again.