FLORENCE, Ariz. — Emmanuel Damas, a 56-year-old Haitian man, died in a hospital Monday after a tooth infection was left untreated during his months-long confinement at an Arizona immigration detention center, his brother said Wednesday. The incident has raised concerns about healthcare access and accountability within the U.S. immigration system.

Untreated Illness and Systemic Failures

Damas reportedly told medical staff at the Florence Correctional Center in mid-February that he was experiencing a toothache, but he was not referred to a dentist, according to his brother, Presly Nelson. Nelson said he believed the facility staff did not take his brother’s complaints seriously, despite the condition being treatable with basic dental care.

Nelson, who is now an American citizen, expressed disbelief that such an outcome could occur in the United States. ‘As a country — I’m an American now — I think we can do better than that,’ he said. The death adds to a growing list of fatalities in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody this year, with at least nine people having died so far.

Broader Pattern of Deaths in ICE Custody

Damas’ death follows the February 27 death of Mexican national Alberto Gutierrez-Reyes, who was also in ICE custody at a California detention center. Gutierrez-Reyes had reported chest pain and shortness of breath before his death, according to ICE officials.

Chandler City Council member Christine Ellis, a Haitian American and registered nurse, said she was contacted by Damas’ family after his death. Ellis expressed outrage over the lack of medical care. ‘As a medical person, I am absolutely appalled that there were medical-licensed people that were working there and allowed those things to happen,’ she said. ‘It does not make sense to me.’

The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office listed Damas’ cause of death as ‘pending’ as of Wednesday, indicating that a full report may still be in progress. Damas was taken into ICE custody in September and later transferred to the medium-security Florence Correctional Center, where he was held for several months, including after his asylum application was denied, Ellis said.

Corporate Oversight and Public Response

The Florence Correctional Center is operated by CoreCivic, a for-profit corrections company. As of Wednesday, the company had not responded to emails seeking comment on the circumstances of Damas’ death or the facility’s medical protocols.

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment on the incident. Earlier in the day, ICE had announced plans to issue a news release, but no statement had been issued by Wednesday afternoon.

Damas’ case has sparked renewed calls for reform in the U.S. immigration detention system, particularly regarding medical care and oversight. Advocacy groups and lawmakers have long criticized the conditions in ICE facilities, citing concerns over healthcare access, overcrowding, and the use of private prison contractors.

Ellis said the death highlights a systemic failure. ‘It’s not just about one individual’s neglect,’ she said. ‘It’s about the system as a whole and how it prioritizes people in custody.’

The incident has also drawn attention to the broader issue of healthcare disparities in the U.S., particularly for non-citizens in immigration custody. While the U.S. has a strong healthcare system, access to care is often limited for undocumented individuals and those in detention, especially in facilities managed by private contractors.

With no immediate timeline for the release of an official statement from ICE or the Department of Homeland Security, the case of Emmanuel Damas remains a focal point for critics of the immigration detention system. The coming days may bring further clarity on the circumstances of his death and the steps, if any, that will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.