health
March 5, 2026
ICE detainee in Arizona dies after not receiving ‘timely medical attention’
Emmanuel Damas, a Haitian asylum seeker, was being held at the Florence correctional center before he died
TL;DR
- Emmanuel Damas, a Haitian asylum seeker, died on Monday while detained at the Florence correctional center in Arizona.
- Damas reportedly suffered from severe tooth pain for weeks before collapsing and being transferred to a hospital, where he died.
- A Chandler city council member, Christine Ellis, has called for an investigation into the quality of medical care provided at the facility.
- Damas was taken into ICE custody in Boston in September 2025 and later transferred to Arizona.
- Damas's death has not yet been officially reported by ICE, but he is among at least nine people reported to have died in ICE custody in 2026.
- The year 2025 marked the deadliest year for ICE detainees in over two decades, with at least 32 deaths.
- The article mentions Kristi Noem's tenure as homeland security secretary and upcoming replacement by Markwayne Mullin.
- DHS has faced bipartisan backlash over other incidents, including the shooting deaths of two US citizens by federal immigration agents.
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