Haitian Asylum Seeker Dies in ICE Custody After Untreated Tooth Infection

The death of a Haitian asylum seeker in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody has renewed scrutiny of medical care within immigration detention facilities. Emmanuel Damas, 56, died after a tooth infection allegedly went untreated for weeks while he was detained at the Florence Correctional Center in Arizona.

Details of the Case

Emmanuel Damas, a Haitian national seeking asylum in the United States, began experiencing a toothache in mid-February 2026. According to his brother, Presly Nelson, Damas was only given ibuprofen for the pain and was not seen by a dentist despite repeated complaints. He collapsed after the infection worsened and died on March 2, 2026, at a hospital. The Independent reports that Damas had entered the U.S. Under humanitarian protections in 2024, which expired two years later.

Growing Concerns Over ICE Detainee Deaths

Damas’s death is the tenth reported in ICE custody in 2026, potentially bringing the total number of deaths under the Trump administration to at least 39. Truthout too reported the death of Alberto Gutierrez-Reyes, 48, who died in a California hospital on February 27, 2026, after falling ill at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center.

Calls for Accountability

Chandler City Councilwoman Christine Ellis, a Haitian American and registered nurse, has been advocating for the Damas family and has spoken to local journalists about the case. Ellis stated, “Nobody should die from a toothache,” and emphasized the need for improved medical care within ICE facilities. Truthout

Guerline Jozef, executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, called for independent investigations into all deaths in ICE custody and expanded alternatives to detention. “People seeking safety should not die from untreated medical conditions while in government custody,” Jozef said in a statement.

ICE Response and Criticism

ICE has not yet released a statement regarding Damas’s death, but did issue a statement on the death of Gutierrez-Reyes. Austin Kocher, a research assistant professor at Syracuse University who analyzes ICE data, criticized an ICE statement claiming detainees receive “the best health care that many aliens have received in their entire lives,” calling it a claim that “actively forecloses accountability by reframing systemic neglect as institutional generosity.” Truthout

Broader Context: Increased Detentions and Concerns

The deaths occur as the number of people in ICE custody has risen sharply, from under 40,000 to over 70,000, with funding allowing for potential capacity to hold up to 135,000 detainees. Truthout. Concerns are also growing about conditions in ICE facilities, including reports of inedible food, medical neglect, and outbreaks of diseases like COVID-19 and tuberculosis. Truthout

Department of Homeland Security Leadership Change

The deaths also approach as President Trump announced the removal of Kristi Noem as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, following a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Truthout