Haitian asylum seeker dies after tooth infection at Arizona ICE facility, family says

FLORENCE, Ariz. — A Haitian asylum seeker died after developing a severe tooth infection while detained at the Florence Correctional Center, an U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. Emmanuel Damas, 56, died Monday at a Scottsdale hospital after two weeks of worsening symptoms, his family says.

Haitian Asylum Seeker Emmanuel Damas: Deteriorating Health After a Reported Toothache

Damas entered the United States in February 2024 through a federal humanitarian program and had been held by ICE since September 2025, reports Arizona Daily Star

His family said he first reported a toothache on February 12. Staff provided only ibuprofen, according to his brother, Presly Nelson. Days later, another detainee reportedly alerted the family that Damas had collapsed and been taken to a hospital.

Nelson said the family flew from Boston and found Damas unconscious and on a ventilator. Hospital staff told them the infection had spread from his tooth to his neck and lungs, causing sepsis. He remained in a coma for nine days before his death.

Allegations of Delayed Care

Local officials said Damas struggled to receive timely medical attention. Chandler City Councilwoman Christine Ellis, a registered nurse, told the Arizona Daily Star she learned from the family that staff dismissed his complaints. Another detainee reported hearing personnel “laughing and saying he was faking” as he cried for help, Tucson.com reported.

Ellis called for an investigation, saying “nobody should die from a toothache.” She shared images of Damas intubated in intensive care on Instagram and said the case raises serious concerns about medical oversight in detention facilities.

Damas is the 10th person to die in ICE custody in 2026.

How Tooth Infections Become Life‑Threatening

Medical experts note that untreated dental infections can spread beyond the tooth root. When bacteria enter the bloodstream, they can trigger sepsis, a life‑threatening inflammatory response. Sepsis can develop rapidly and may cause organ failure if not treated early.

Common warning signs include fever, rapid heart rate, confusion, swelling in the jaw or neck, and sudden fatigue. Health professionals emphasize that dental infections require prompt evaluation because they can escalate quickly when left untreated.

Haitian Asylum Seeker Emmanuel Damas Dies:  Family Seeks Answers

Nelson said the family wants a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding Damas’ death. He noted that his brother’s two‑year humanitarian parole period would have expired on February 19 — the same day Damas reportedly became severely ill.

The family described Damas as a father of two and a handyman who fled unrest in Haiti. Nelson said the youngest child has not yet been told of his father’s death.