By Jacques BilleaudThe Related Press
PHOENIX (AP) — A Haitian man confined at an Arizona immigration detention middle for months died at a hospital March 2 after a tooth an infection was left untreated, the person’s brother stated March 4.
Emmanuel Damas, 56, informed medical personnel on the Florence Correctional Heart that he had a toothache in mid-February, however he was not despatched to a dentist, stated Damas’ brother, Presly Nelson.
Nelson believes the workers on the facility didn’t take his brother’s complaints critically although it was a treatable situation. Nelson stated he would anticipate such a demise in nations with much less entry to well being care, however not the USA.
“As a rustic — I’m an American now — I feel we will do higher than that,” Nelson stated.
Damas is amongst at the least 9 individuals who have died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody this yr.
The Division of Homeland Safety didn’t instantly reply to emails looking for remark. ICE had stated it hoped to difficulty a information launch March 4.
Earlier that day, ICE officers introduced the demise of Mexican nationwide Alberto Gutierrez-Reyes, who had been in a California ICE detention middle and died within the hospital Feb. 27 after reporting chest ache and shortness of breath.
Chandler Metropolis Council member Christine Ellis, a Haitian American who’s a registered nurse, stated she was contacted by Damas’ household after his demise.
“As a medical individual, I’m completely appalled that there have been medical-licensed those who have been working there and allowed these issues to occur,” Ellis stated. “It doesn’t make sense to me.”
A report from the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Workplace listed Damas’ explanation for demise as “pending” as of March 4.
Damas was taken into ICE custody in September and was quickly transferred to the medium-security Florence Correctional Heart, the place he was held for a number of months, together with after his asylum utility was denied, Ellis stated.
CoreCivic, a for-profit corrections firm that runs the Florence facility, deferred remark to ICE.
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Related Press reporter Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake Metropolis contributed.
