JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As President Donald Trump’s administration ramps up its efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and opens new detention centers across the country, at least 15 immigrants have died in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) so far this year, records show.
Marie Ange Blaise, a 44-year-old Haitian woman who died in ICE custody at the Broward Transitional Center in South Florida on April 25, is among those immigrants.
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Blaise is part of the growing number of immigrants who have died in ICE custody.
According to records, 2025 is on track to be one of the deadliest years for people in ICE custody in recent years.
A Jacksonville organization wants to make sure Blaise and all of those immigrants who have died in detention centers are not just a number.
On Wednesday, Blaise and others who have died in ICE custody were remembered and honored in one of the many altars that were featured at the 9th Annual Día de los Muertos event on Wednesday evening in Jacksonville.
“The Latino community in Jacksonville is out here today, and we just want them to know that we see their struggle and that we are here for them, we’re recognizing them. Grieving and honoring our struggle is just as important as the beauty of our culture,” Jamison Collins-Morita with the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance told News4JAX.
Hundreds of people of all ages and ethnicities gathered at James Weldon Johnson Park to remember those who have passed away — from parents and grandparents to friends and even pets.
The Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday that honors the lives of those who have passed away. Families believe the spirits of their loved ones return to visit the living on Nov. 2.
Cesar Marfil Rubio, one of the organizers, told News4JAX the event started as a very small gathering on a blocked-off street years ago, but recently, the celebration has grown significantly, which is why it was moved to the park.
Moreover, this year, the annual event merged with Downtown Art Walk, a popular monthly event that features local artists, live music and food trucks at the park.
While the theme may be death, the Day of the Dead is a joyful and colorful celebration, and Wednesday’s event showcased just that with delicious food, a variety of vendors, contests and dancing.
But more than anything, the event was a celebration of culture — a culture that is part of Jacksonville’s diversity.