Pastor Attributes Haitian Student's Death to U.S. Immigration Policy

Pierre Damas Bel, a 20-year-old Haitian student at Wright State University, died on September 1 after walking into traffic on Interstate 70 in Clark County, Ohio. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol and witness accounts, Bel exited his vehicle and stepped in front of an oncoming tractor-trailer. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Carl Ruby, senior pastor of Central Christian Church in Springfield, stated that Bel’s death was a direct result of U.S. immigration policy. Bel had recently lost his Temporary Protected Status (TPS) following a Supreme Court decision that upheld the termination of the program for Haitian nationals. Ruby, representing the faith coalition Springfield G92, argued that the loss of legal status and the threat of deportation contributed to the tragedy.

Bel had entered the United States in 2024 through the CBP One mobile application program to join his family. While federal authorities confirmed his entry status, advocates are using the incident to highlight the emotional and psychological impact of shifting immigration regulations on migrant communities.