Haitian Asylum Seeker Dies After Months in ICE Custody: Family Claims It Began with a Toothache
Emmanuel Damas, a 56-year-old Haitian man seeking asylum in the United States, tragically passed away on March 3, 2026, due to complications from an infected tooth. His death occurred in a Scottsdale, Arizona hospital after being detained for four months at the Florence Correctional Center, a facility managed by CoreCivic under contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Damas had entered the U.S. under a humanitarian parole program established during the Biden administration for Haitian migrants and had an active asylum claim at the time of his detention.
According to his family – and confirmed by Chandler City Councilwoman Christine Ellis, a registered nurse who spoke with them- Damas first reported to detention staff about his pain on February 12. He was reportedly given only ibuprofen for relief. His condition deteriorated rapidly over the next two weeks.
Fellow detainees say that when Damas cried out for medical assistance, staff mocked him, accusing him of faking his pain. Eventually, Damas collapsed due to the infection and developed sepsis. He was finally transferred to a hospital, where he passed away days later.
Damas’ death is now believed to be at least the 10th in ICE custody in 2026. In 2025, 31 deaths were reported in immigration detention, the highest number in over 20 years. ICE is currently detaining a record 71,000 people—nearly double the number during Donald Trump’s presidency.
As of Wednesday morning, ICE had not publicly commented on Damas’ death, which was first shared by Councilwoman Ellis.
“Nobody should die from a toothache,” Ellis said, calling for a thorough investigation and urging lawmakers to take action.
Human rights advocates have long criticized the inadequate medical care in ICE detention facilities, a problem they say has worsened as the detained population grows faster than the system’s ability to provide adequate care.
