Dorchester Community Mourns Emmanuel Damas, Haitian Man Who Died in ICE Detention in Arizona After Family Says Toothache Went Untreated

Funeral services were held on Saturday for Emmanuel Damas, a Haitian immigrant who died in ICE custody.
Over 100 mourners gathered at the Boston Teachers Union Hall in Dorchester to honor Emmanuel Cleeford Damas, a 56-year-old Haitian man who died March 2 at HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center in Arizona while in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody.

Damas’ coffin stood at the front, beneath a photo and a message: ‘We Can Take Care of a Toothache’—a nod to what his family says started the medical crisis that claimed his life. His twin brothers, Presly and Presner Nelson, draped the Haitian flag over the coffin, WBUR reported.

The family maintains that an untreated toothache at the Florence Correctional Center in Arizona, a facility operated by the private prison company CoreCivic, escalated into a series of life-threatening conditions over the final two weeks of Damas’ life.

ICE and the Department of Homeland Security have disputed the family’s account. They state Damas received health screenings upon arrival and that medical staff identified no serious issues at that time.

Damas arrived in the United States in February 2024 through the Biden administration’s Humanitarian Parole program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. He settled in Dorchester with his brothers and other family members.

On September 14, 2025, at a family gathering in Dorchester, Boston police arrested Damas for an alleged domestic assault. According to the family’s account, neighbors called police for a safety check, which led to a misunderstanding and escalation.

After Damas’ arrest, his family posted bail at Nashua Street Jail, but he was not released. ICE agents took him into custody the next day, and, according to an ICE news release, he was detained under the Laken Riley Act due to his pending immigration case and perceived risk to public safety.

ICE first transferred Damas from Boston to Buffalo, New York, then to the Florence Detention Center in Arizona—over 2,400 miles from his family. Hannah Hafter, Dorchester hub leader for LUCE Network Massachusetts, told WBUR that the distance was a critical factor, calling the transfer to Arizona ‘a deadly move.’

While in ICE custody, Damas’ asylum application was denied, according to NBC Boston. On January 27, 2026, he filed an appeal with the Board of Immigration Appeals but remained detained under the Laken Riley Act during the appeal process, as outlined in an ICE news release.

Before falling ill, Damas called his family from the Florence Detention Center several times a day, according to NBC Boston. His brothers said he was in regular contact and that the family deposited money into his account so he could make calls.

On February 19, 2026, Damas reported shortness of breath and was sent to Florence Anthem Hospital, according to the ICE timeline. He was then transferred to the John C. Lincoln Medical Center Intensive Care Unit in Phoenix for a higher level of care. The family, however, says the underlying problem began earlier with a toothache that worsened over days, despite inadequate dental treatment. ICE’s official account of the case does not mention a toothache, referring only to the shortness of breath complaint.

On February 20, Damas was intubated and placed on a ventilator with 50 percent oxygen. His condition remained critical over the next several days. By February 24, his ammonia levels, liver function tests, and white blood cell counts were elevated. According to the ICE timeline, the hospital reported a likely diagnosis of septic shock due to pneumonia.

On February 25, Damas was transferred from John C. Lincoln Medical Center to Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center for a cardiothoracic workup. When his family arrived in Arizona, they found him in a coma with no chance of recovery, according to CBS Boston.

He was pronounced dead at 1:12 p.m. on March 2, 2026. The preliminary cause of death was listed as unknown.

The family has requested an independent autopsy.

At Saturday’s memorial, Presley Nelson delivered a eulogy remembering his brother as a man with a generous spirit. He recalled first bringing Damas to America and said his brother arrived with simple aspirations — he wanted to visit New York, save enough money to buy a BMW, and find an apartment where he could support his two sons and his mother, as reported by WBUR.

None of those dreams were realized.

“My brother was not perfect, none of us are,” Presly Nelson said. “But what must never be forgotten is his heart. He had a big heart, one that gave, even when he had little. He shared, he protected, he loved his own way.”

Presner Nelson, Damas’ twin brother, rejected the dehumanizing language used in immigration enforcement. ‘He wasn’t an illegal alien,’ he said. ‘Let me make it clear. We are human beings, not aliens. Our blood is the same color.’

Boston City Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune told the gathering that ICE must be held accountable. ‘We must face this truth: something went gravely wrong,’ she said. ‘A life that mattered was lost in a system meant to uphold the law.’

Congressional Response

Damas’ death has drawn attention from officials in Massachusetts and Arizona. U.S. Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley called Damas’ death ‘highly preventable’ and questioned ICE’s ability to provide timely medical care, CBS Boston reported.

In Arizona, U.S. Representatives Adelita Grijalva, Yassamin Ansari, and Greg Stanton sent DHS Secretary Kristi Noem a letter on March 9 citing ‘grave concern’ over possible medical negligence.

Representative Ansari subsequently delivered a floor speech in Congress, calling for an independent investigation. She said she traveled to the Florence Correctional Center on March 13 to conduct an oversight visit but was met with resistance, including from private counsel for CoreCivic, and was denied the ability to speak with detainees.

Christine Ellis, a Chandler, Arizona, city councilwoman, registered nurse, and Haitian American, also called for an investigation. ‘Nobody should die from a toothache,’ Ellis told the Arizona Daily Star.

Damas’ death is part of a troubling pattern. In 2026, 13 people, including Damas, died in ICE custody nationwide, according to agency records. Thirty-one died in 2025.

The Florence Correctional Center is operated by CoreCivic, a private, for-profit company that has referred all inquiries about the case to ICE. Critics have argued that the private detention model prioritizes cost reduction over the health and safety of detainees, often resulting in delayed access to specialized medical care, such as dentistry.

Damas’ brother Presner told NBC Boston that Emmanuel had been eligible for Temporary Protected Status before his arrest — a claim that carries additional weight as the broader fight over Haitian TPS protections continues in Congress and at the Supreme Court.

As Presley Nelson closed his eulogy on Saturday, he turned toward his brother’s coffin. “I love you,” he said. “I’m sorry for bringing you into this mess.”

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