A Haitian man in ICE custody at the Florence Correctional Complex died in a hospital in Scottsdale on Monday. The family of 56-year-old Emmanuel Damas said federal agents neglected his care.
Damas’ younger brother, Presly Nelson, says he was picked up by ICE after Boston police arrested him on domestic violence charges last fall.
Nelson says Damas began complaining of a toothache on Feb. 13, but was given only a dose of ibuprofen by detention staff. Almost a week later, Damas could no longer speak. On Feb. 20, Nelson says he spoke to an ICU doctor in Phoenix, where Damas was being treated.
"And he said, your brother just was admitted yesterday, and was very sick. He’s on ventilation, he has pneumonia, he has a bad infection, but we are doing everything we can," he said.
Nelson says for the next week, his family struggled to get clearance to come see Damas, or even information on his whereabouts and condition. After the initial call with the ICU, he says hospital staff told him ICE had barred them from giving out further details.
At some point, he says, Damas was transferred from the Honor Health John C. Lincoln Medical Center in Phoenix to the Honor Health Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center, but he's not sure when or why.
The family was finally cleared to visit Damas on Sunday, according to Nelson.
"We walked into the room and we were greeted by security guards, he was on ventilation, he was on dialysis," Nelson said. "We noticed while he was there, could barely open his eyes, he was still handcuffed."
Nelson says Damas died just after 1 p.m. Monday, after going into septic shock.
ICE has not acknowledged the death or responded to questions. A spokesperson with CoreCivic, the private, for-profit company that operates the Florence facility, directed questions about Damas to ICE.
"Once we have information to share, we will be sure you receive it," agency spokesperson Yasmeen Pitts O'Keefe said in an email.
Damas' death marks at least the seventh in ICE custody so far this year, according to agency numbers. Thirty-two people died while in the agency's custody in 2025, marking the deadliest year in two decades.
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