Family of Haitian asylum seeker detained by ICE say they were left in the dark as he lay dying

PHOENIX — The family of a Haitian asylum seeker who died after being detained by ICE believes his death could have been prevented if he had received timely and adequate medical care.

Emmanuel Clifford Damas died of sepsis at HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center on Monday after being hospitalized for 11 days with health issues that began as a toothache.

Before being taken to a hospital, he was held at the ICE detention center in Florence.

His brother, Presly Nelson, told KTAR News 92.3 FM that Damas had been at the facility since November 2025 and first reported the toothache on Feb. 13. The clinic at the detention center gave him Tylenol for the pain, but that was it.

Nearly a week later, on Feb. 19, Damas was finally taken to a hospital. Initially, he was brought to HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center in Phoenix.

“On Friday, which was the 20th, we got a call from the hospital, and that’s when they said, ‘Your brother is very sick. He is already on ventilation because he has pneumonia,'” Nelson said. “He said, ‘The next 24-48 hours would be very crucial for him. He may or may not survive.'”

Brother of Haitian man detained by ICE recounts confusion, conflicting guidance

Initially, the hospital workers promised Nelson consistent communication about his brother’s well-being.

“They said, ‘You can call this station, the nursing station … and you can call anytime to see how he’s doing,'” Nelson said.

That access was short-lived. Twenty minutes later, when Nelson called again, he was instructed to contact ICE for permission, and he complied.

“My brother is gravely ill, and I’m calling to get authorization to come and see him. And the first individual I talked with said, ‘Nope. The hospital is not supposed to share any information about this patient. The person is in ICE custody. No individual in the medical team should be talking to you,'” he recalled.

Nelson was transferred to another number, where a second person took his information and promised a call back. However, that call never came.

Family of Haitian man left scrambling for answers as he lay on his deathbed

When he eventually reached hospital staff again, they told him they were no longer allowed to provide updates on Damas’ condition.

“I’m like, ‘What do you mean? I spoke with you yesterday and you told me I could call.’ They said, ‘Yes, but that has changed. We cannot tell you anything.’ I’m like, ‘Is he still alive?’ And they could not tell me anything,” Nelson said.

Terrified for his brother’s life, he called again, begging for any update on his condition.

“I was very worried,” Nelson said. “Her voice cracked a little bit. She said, ‘I’m sorry. Yes, he’s still alive, but he’s not on this floor anymore.'”

Once again, he was caught in a bureaucratic maze, directed to call the ICE detention facility in Florence and then transferred from one department to another. He was sent to the courthouse, then to a courthouse security officer and finally to the U.S. Marshals.

“Monday, I’ve been making calls. Tuesday, making calls. Wednesday, I’m making calls. It wasn’t until Thursday — that’s when I got a call from the social worker (at) HonorHealth in Scottsdale. That’s when they said, ‘Your brother is actually here with us. He was admitted on the 25th of February.'”

It was the first time in six days that Damas’ family had gotten a definitive update on his condition.

Asylum seeker was handcuffed to bed while receiving treatment for infection

The Friday before Damas died, Nelson said he finally received a call from the medical team.

“They said, ‘Your brother is very ill. … His body is in septic shock. He has an infection in the back of his mouth, his throat,'” Nelson said.

Damas had surgery to remove parts of the infection. The next day, a nurse called Nelson and said the family had permission to visit him at the hospital.

Nelson, his mother, sister-in-law and cousin arrived at the Scottsdale hospital on Sunday.

“My brother could not even open his eyes,” Nelson said. “His feet and hands were handcuffed on the hospital bed.”

He said it was hurtful and insulting to see his brother handcuffed, especially since he wasn’t a criminal and hadn’t been charged with any crime. He and the rest of the family stayed by Damas’ bedside until he was taken off life support the following day.

Nelson fears that more people will die if ICE doesn’t do more to ensure its detainees’ welfare.

“My brother is not the first and my fear is he will not be the last,” Nelson said, adding that his brother was a loving father with a good heart. “There was no reason for them to treat him like this.”

KTAR News 92.3 FM has reached out to ICE for confirmation of Damas’ death but has not received a response.

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