03/11/2026
Press Release re: the tragic death of Emmanuel Damas
The National Dental Association is calling for an immediate investigation into the tragic and preventable death of Haitian asylum seeker Emmanuel Damas, who reportedly died after an untreated tooth infection while in federal immigration detention. According to reports, Mr. Damas repeatedly complained of severe tooth pain while detained at the Florence Correctional Center in Arizona but was allegedly given only pain medication for days. He later collapsed and was hospitalized with septic shock after the infection spread beyond his tooth. Medical experts emphasize that infections originating in the mouth can spread rapidly to the lungs, brain, or heart—but with timely dental care, such deaths are entirely preventable. Simply put: no one in the United States should die from a toothache.
This tragedy echoes the 2007 death of 12-year-old Deamonte Driver in Maryland, whose untreated dental infection also became fatal. Nearly two decades later, another life has been lost to a condition that modern medicine can treat quickly and effectively. Beyond the medical failure, the circumstances surrounding Mr. Damas’ death raise serious moral questions about the conditions and oversight of immigration detention facilities. The National Dental Association is calling for a full federal investigation, transparent review of medical and dental care protocols in detention centers, and immediate standards ensuring timely access to emergency dental care for all detainees. Healthcare is a basic human right, and human dignity does not stop at the walls of a detention facility.
To read the full release go to the Newsroom on ndaonline.org
