Haitian Man Dies in ICE Custody from Untreated Tooth Infection, Family and Officials Say
A 56-year-old Haitian man and father of two has died in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after reportedly suffering from an untreated tooth infection that worsened into a life‑threatening condition, his family and local officials say.
The man, identified as Emmanuel Damas, was being held at the Florence Correctional Center in Arizona, a facility contracted by federal immigration authorities, after being detained during immigration proceedings. Damas, who fled Haiti and sought asylum in the United States, had been in custody since September 2025.
According to family members and medical advocates, Damas began complaining of a severe toothache in mid‑February. Despite repeatedly reporting worsening pain to staff at the detention centre, he was not referred to dental care and was reportedly given only ibuprofen and over‑the‑counter pain relievers. After weeks of agony, the infected tooth led to complications that ultimately caused his health to deteriorate rapidly.
“The infection spread from his mouth to his neck and lungs, and he went septic,” his brother, Presly Nelson, said in interviews with local media. Nelson said that family members were only notified after another detainee called them to report that Damas was rushed to a local hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Damas was transferred to a hospital where he was placed on a ventilator, but he never regained consciousness. His family arrived from Boston only to find him intubated and in critical condition. Despite their hopes for a recovery miracle, Damas died on March 2, 2026.
Local public figures and advocacy groups have expressed deep concern about the circumstances leading to his death. Chandler City Council member Christine Ellis, a registered nurse and Haitian‑American, called it “absolutely appalling” that a treatable dental condition was left unaddressed by medical staff at the detention centre.
Damas’ death is not isolated: at least nine people have died in ICE custody in 2026 alone, according to official and independent records, with countless others passing away in 2025. Critics argue that the increasing number of deaths points to systemic problems in the way medical care is provided in immigration detention facilities.
Immigrant advocacy organizations, including the Haitian Bridge Alliance, condemned the death, stressing that individuals in detention should have access to timely and adequate medical care, regardless of immigration status. They are calling for independent investigations, increased transparency, and reforms to detention health protocols to prevent future tragedies.
“The death of Emmanuel Damas is a devastating reminder that our immigration detention system is failing to meet even the most basic standards of human dignity,” said Guerline Jozef, executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance.
Family members said Damas came to the U.S. under humanitarian protections instituted during the previous administration but was detained after those protections expired during the ongoing appeal process. His asylum claim had been denied, and he was en route through immigration proceedings when his health rapidly deteriorated.
Civil liberties advocates, medical professionals and some lawmakers have seized on the case as evidence of critical failures in ICE’s healthcare provisions, particularly in privately run facilities such as the Florence Correctional Center. No official statement has yet been issued by ICE regarding the specific circumstances of Damas’ death.
The tragic death has reverberated beyond his family, with community leaders, healthcare workers, and immigrant‑rights groups calling for accountability and justice. They argue that preventative and emergency medical care should be a fundamental right for all individuals in government custody.
As discussions continue about immigration policy and detention standards in the United States, the case of Emmanuel Damas stands as a stark illustration of the human cost when medical needs are overlooked, particularly among vulnerable populations seeking refuge.
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