Group condemns death of Haitian national in ICE custody

CMC

The San Diego, California-based Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) has condemned the death of a Haitian national in the custody of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.

On Friday, ICE said Emanuel Cleeford Damas, “a criminal illegal alien from Haiti currently facing criminal charges for assault and battery@, died while in custody on March 2.

However, according to Guerline Jozef, HBA executive director, Damas died at a Scottsdale hospital “after reportedly suffering complications linked to an untreated tooth infection while detained at the Florence ICE facility, raising serious concerns about access to timely medical care for immigrants in government custody.

“Damas’ death is part of a deeply troubling pattern,” she added, stating that, at least 30–32 people died in ICE detention in 2025.

Multiple deaths

“The crisis appears to be continuing into this year,” Jozef continued. “Multiple deaths have already been reported in the early months of 2026, including four migrants died while in US immigration custody, in the first 10 days alone in 2026.

“Far too many immigrants–including Haitian nationals–have died in ICE custody,” she said. “The death of Emmanuel Damas is a devastating reminder that our immigration detention system is failing the most basic standard of human dignity. People seeking safety should not die from untreated medical conditions while in government custody.”

Jozef said these deaths demand “urgent accountability, transparency, and meaningful reform”.

She said HBA calls on federal authorities to launch independent investigations into deaths in immigration detention, ensure adequate medical care for all detainees, and expand humane, community-based alternatives to individuals with pending immigration cases who pose a risk to public safety”.