Amidst rising concerns over detainee health care, a recent case involving a Haitian man in custody has drawn significant attention. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) provided details on Friday regarding the events leading up to the death of Emmanuel Damas, 56, who passed away at a hospital in Scottsdale earlier this week.
According to reports, Damas began experiencing a toothache around February 13 while detained at the Florence Correctional Center. His brother, Presly Nelson, claims that despite his complaints, Damas was only given ibuprofen. The situation escalated, leading to a hospitalization nearly a week later when Damas was unable to speak.
The family faced difficulties in obtaining updates about Damas’ condition, with Nelson stating that hospital staff were prohibited by ICE from sharing information. It wasn’t until February 28 that the family was allowed to visit. Damas succumbed to his illness on Monday, after spending 11 days in the hospital. Nelson mentioned that the family was informed that septic shock, likely originating from the initial tooth infection, was the cause of death.
ICE’s official statement was released four days posthumously and was the first acknowledgment of Damas’ death from the agency. The statement notes that Damas was transferred to the hospital following complaints of shortness of breath on February 19, but does not address any dental issues.
While ICE has yet to confirm the exact cause of death, Damas was previously detained in September by Boston police on charges of assault and battery. His detention was in compliance with the Laken Riley Act, a recent law requiring detention for immigrants accused of a variety of offenses, including assault.
However, discrepancies in ICE’s documentation have been noted, including inaccuracies in the spelling of Damas’ name, the hospital details, and the law’s title.
