Haitian Man Dies in US Immigration Custody with Untreated Toothache, Brother Says

Emmanuel Damas, 56, died at an Arizona detention center after his tooth infection went untreated, according to his brother.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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A Haitian man named Emmanuel Damas, 56, died at a hospital on Monday after being held for months at an Arizona immigration detention center where he complained of a toothache that was left untreated, according to his brother Presly Nelson. Nelson believes the staff at the facility did not take his brother's medical complaints seriously, leading to his preventable death.

Why it matters

This incident highlights ongoing concerns about the medical care and treatment of immigrants in US detention facilities, with Damas being at least the 9th person to die in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody so far this year. Critics argue that substandard medical care in these facilities amounts to a violation of detainees' human rights.

The details

Emmanuel Damas told medical staff at the Florence Correctional Center in mid-February that he had a toothache, but he was not sent to see a dentist. His brother Presly Nelson believes the staff did not take Damas' medical complaint seriously, even though it was a treatable condition. Damas was eventually transferred to a hospital, where he died on Monday.

  • In mid-February, Damas told medical staff at the detention center that he had a toothache.
  • On Monday, Damas died at a hospital.

The players

Emmanuel Damas

A 56-year-old Haitian man who died in US immigration custody after his toothache went untreated.

Presly Nelson

The brother of Emmanuel Damas, who spoke out about his brother's preventable death in detention.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The US government agency responsible for detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants, which oversees the detention facility where Damas was held.

CoreCivic

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

Christine Ellis

A Chandler City Council member and registered nurse who was contacted by Damas' family after his death and expressed outrage over the lack of medical care.

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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.”

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

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

— Presly Nelson, Brother of Emmanuel Damas (sentinelcolorado.com)

What’s next

The Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office is still investigating the cause of Damas' death, which was listed as 'pending' as of Wednesday. Immigration advocates are likely to continue pressing for improved medical care and oversight in detention facilities to prevent similar tragedies.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing concerns about the treatment of immigrants in US detention facilities, where substandard medical care has led to preventable deaths like that of Emmanuel Damas. It underscores the need for greater accountability and reform to ensure detainees receive the basic level of healthcare they are entitled to as human beings.