Haitian Asylum Seeker Dies in ICE Custody After Tooth Infection Left Untreated

Emmanuel Damas is at least the 10th person to die in ICE custody this year, raising concerns about medical care in detention centers.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Emmanuel Damas, a Haitian man seeking asylum, died on Monday at a Scottsdale hospital after complaining of an untreated tooth infection that had been worsening since mid-February while he was in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Damas had been detained by ICE since September in a Florence, Arizona detention center.

Why it matters

Damas' death is the latest in a string of in-custody deaths at ICE detention facilities, which have faced longstanding criticism over inadequate medical care provided to detainees. His case highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of asylum seekers and immigrants in the U.S. immigration detention system.

The details

According to Chandler Councilwoman Christine Ellis, a Haitian immigrant and registered nurse, Damas had complained about the worsening tooth infection since mid-February but did not receive timely medical attention before being transferred to the hospital, where he later died. Ellis said Damas' 'reported struggle to receive timely medical attention' raises 'serious and painful concerns about the quality of care provided to individuals in custody'.

  • Damas was detained by ICE officers in Boston in September 2025.
  • Damas began complaining about a worsening tooth infection in mid-February 2026.
  • Damas died at a Scottsdale hospital on Monday, March 5, 2026.

The players

Emmanuel Damas

A Haitian man seeking asylum who died in ICE custody after a tooth infection was left untreated.

Christine Ellis

A Chandler, Arizona councilwoman, Haitian immigrant, and registered nurse who spoke out about Damas' case.

Adelita Grijalva

An Arizona congresswoman who said 'a toothache should not be a death sentence' and called for better medical care in immigration detention facilities.

Laura St. John

The legal director for the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, who said ICE routinely denies detainees timely dental care.

Austin Kocher

An immigration researcher who maintains a database of deaths in ICE custody.

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What they’re saying

“His reported struggle to receive timely medical attention before being transferred to a hospital raises serious and painful concerns about the quality of care provided to individuals in custody.”

— Christine Ellis, Chandler Councilwoman and Registered Nurse (phoenixnewtimes.com)

“A toothache should not be a death sentence. Emmanuel Damas should be alive today. These are mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters — people dying from simple, treatable ailments because they are being treated as less than human.”

— Adelita Grijalva, Arizona Congresswoman (phoenixnewtimes.com)

“ICE routinely refuses dental care to people until they have been in custody for six months, and that clock typically resets each time someone is transferred. Every person deserves appropriate medical and dental care, and we are deeply troubled by the reports of what Mr. Damas endured leading to his passing.”

— Laura St. John, Legal Director, Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project (phoenixnewtimes.com)

What’s next

The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry will investigate Damas' death, and the results will be made public.

The takeaway

Damas' tragic death highlights the ongoing issues with medical care and treatment of immigrants and asylum seekers in the U.S. detention system, raising urgent questions about the quality of care, access to timely treatment, and the humanity with which detainees are treated.