Haitian Man Dies in US Immigration Custody with Untreated Toothache

Brother says Emmanuel Damas' tooth infection was left untreated for months before his death.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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A 56-year-old Haitian man named Emmanuel Damas died at an Arizona hospital on Monday after being held for months at an immigration detention center where he complained of a toothache that was left untreated, according to his brother Presly Nelson.

Why it matters

Damas' death highlights ongoing concerns about medical care and treatment of immigrants in US detention facilities, with at least 9 deaths reported in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody so far this year.

The details

Damas told medical staff at the Florence Correctional Center about his toothache in mid-February, but was not sent to a dentist. His brother believes the staff did not take his complaints seriously, even though the condition was treatable. Damas was held at the medium-security facility for several months after his asylum application was denied.

  • Damas reported his toothache to medical staff in mid-February 2026.
  • Damas died at a hospital on Monday, March 3, 2026.

The players

Emmanuel Damas

A 56-year-old Haitian man who died in US immigration custody after a tooth infection was left untreated.

Presly Nelson

Emmanuel Damas' brother, who says the staff at the detention center did not take his brother's medical complaints seriously.

CoreCivic

A for-profit corrections company that runs the Florence Correctional Center where Damas was held.

Christine Ellis

A Haitian American Chandler City Council member and registered nurse who was contacted by Damas' family after his death.

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What they’re saying

“As a medical person, I am absolutely appalled that there were medical-licensed people that were working there and allowed those things to happen. It does not make sense to me.”

— Christine Ellis, Chandler City Council member and registered nurse (wbal.com)

“As a country — I'm an American now — I think we can do better than that.”

— Presly Nelson, Emmanuel Damas' brother (wbal.com)

What’s next

The Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office is still determining the official cause of Damas' death.

The takeaway

This tragic case underscores the urgent need for improved medical care and oversight in US immigration detention facilities, where vulnerable detainees' health concerns are too often dismissed with dire consequences.