Haitian Father Dies in ICE Custody from Untreated Tooth Infection
A Haitian father-of-two, who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while seeking asylum in the United States, has died from a tooth infection while in the agency's custody, according to his grieving brother. The tragic case highlights concerns over medical care in immigration detention facilities.
Weeks of Pain and Denied Treatment
Emmanuel Damas, aged 56, had been in ICE detention since September, after being apprehended by officers in Florence, Arizona, just outside Phoenix. He passed away on Monday following weeks of suffering from a severe toothache. His brother, Presly Nelson, revealed to ABC15 that Damas first complained about tooth pain to him and their mother in mid-February.
Despite repeated requests for dental attention, Damas was allegedly denied visits to a dentist and was instead provided only with ibuprofen to manage his agony. Just days after his call to family, his condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to an emergency hospitalisation in Scottsdale.
Family Learns of Hospitalisation Through Fellow Detainee
The Damas family said they were not informed by ICE officials about his hospitalisation; instead, they learned of the critical development through a fellow detainee. Nelson and relatives flew from Boston to the hospital, only to find Damas already on a ventilator and in a coma for nine days upon their arrival.
After his brother's death, a nurse reportedly told Nelson, 'he most likely had a tooth infection, and he did not get the proper attention and it had spread to his neck, then to his lungs, and he went septic, and it spread to his whole body.' Nelson added that during the coma, Damas was handcuffed to the bed with security guards monitoring him constantly.
Demands for Investigation into ICE Procedures
The family is now calling for a thorough investigation into Damas's death and the actions, or lack thereof, taken by ICE while he was in custody. 'He had a toothache. All you had to do is get a driver and a security guard, or two security guards, to actually take him to a dentist,' Nelson expressed to ABC15. 'You couldn't do that, but you had two security guards watching him 24/7 for the last 10 days.'
Background: Fleeing Turmoil in Haiti
Damas arrived in the US in February 2024, during the Biden administration, seeking asylum to escape extreme turmoil in Haiti. At that time, the island nation was engulfed in massive protests against the unelected government of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, with gangs expanding their power. The situation escalated in early March when gangs stormed Haiti's two largest prisons, freed thousands of inmates, and occupied the international airport and national soccer stadium in Port-au-Prince.
After fleeing this chaos, Damas applied for asylum. His initial request was denied, but he appealed the decision. He was detained by ICE while the appeal was pending and had been in custody for over five months at the time of his death.
Broader Context of Deaths in ICE Custody
Damas is one of numerous individuals who have died in ICE custody since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025. According to ICE data, 33 people died in custody last year. The agency has reported two more deaths in early 2026, though it is only required to disclose such deaths within 90 days. As of Thursday, it was the 64th day of the year.
In early February, the American Immigration Council reported that six people died in ICE custody in January alone. One of these was Lunas Campos, whose death was ruled a homicide by the El Paso County Medical Examiner, citing asphyxia due to neck and torso compression. A witness claimed Campos was handcuffed while multiple guards restrained him, with one squeezing his neck until he lost consciousness. The Department of Homeland Security attributed his death to attempted suicide.
The Daily Mail has contacted ICE for comment regarding Damas's death and the dozens of other custody deaths since January 2025, but responses are pending as investigations continue.
