Markey, Warren, Pressley Call for Investigation After Massachusetts Resident Reportedly Dies in ICE Custody
WASHINGTON DC, Senator Edward J. Markey, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley are requesting a full investigation into the death of Emmanuel Damas, a 56-year-old Haitian asylum seeker and Massachusetts community member who reportedly died while in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody on March 2.
In a letter sent to the Department of Homeland Security and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, the lawmakers raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding Damas’s death and called for a detailed review of the events leading up to it.
According to a release from the lawmakers’ offices, Damas is believed to be at least the tenth person to die in ICE custody this year.
Lawmakers outlined a timeline of events beginning in February 2026, when Damas reportedly informed staff at the Florence detention center in Arizona that he was experiencing severe tooth pain. Facility staff reportedly provided over-the-counter medication but did not provide dental treatment.
On February 19, Damas told family members that his condition had worsened and that he would be taken to a hospital. The following day, the Damas family was informed by staff at HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center that he had been diagnosed with pneumonia and had been placed on life support in the intensive care unit.
The hospital reportedly declined to release additional medical information and referred the family to ICE. According to the release, ICE also did not provide further details when contacted by family members.
On February 23, Damas’s brother, Presly Nelson, contacted the detention facility again and was told that Damas had been returned to detention, though no information about his medical condition was provided.
Senator Markey’s office also contacted ICE that same day requesting information about Damas’s health and location but said it did not receive satisfactory answers.
Several days later, family members reportedly learned that Damas had again been hospitalized and was scheduled for surgery on February 26. On March 2, Damas died.
In their letter, the lawmakers expressed concerns about medical care provided to individuals held in immigration detention facilities.
They wrote that reports of delayed or inadequate medical treatment have been widely documented and cited ICE detention standards, which state that detainees should have access to appropriate medical, dental, and mental health care, including emergency services.
The lawmakers also asked federal officials to answer several questions as part of the investigation. These include whether Damas requested medical treatment while in custody, when staff first became aware of his condition, and what medical care he received during detention.
They also asked about Damas’s medical history at the time he entered ICE custody, the identity of healthcare providers involved in his treatment, and the official cause of death. The lawmakers also questioned whether an independent autopsy was conducted and whether Damas’s family was informed about his worsening condition before his death.
Officials also asked whether ICE has begun a formal investigation into the case.
According to Chandler, Arizona City Councilwoman Christine Ellis, Damas was initially taken into ICE custody in Massachusetts in September 2025 before later being transferred to the detention facility in Florence, Arizona.
ICE has not yet released additional details about the circumstances surrounding Damas’s death.
