Rep. Grijalva Responds to Medical Examiner’s Findings on Death of Emmanuel Damas

Washington, D.C. — Today, Representative Adelita S. Grijalva released the following statement after the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office posted that Emmanuel Damas’ primary cause of death was “Complications of Necrotizing Mediastinitis with Neck and Retropharyngeal Abscess in the setting of Severe Dental Caries and Periodontal Disease.” You can see Rep. Grijalva’s initial statement following the death of Mr. Damas here. 

“The medical examiner’s preliminary findings make this preventable tragedy even more horrifying. A toothache should never escalate into a fatal medical emergency, especially while someone is in government custody and entirely dependent on detention staff for access to care.” 

“This raises serious and still unanswered questions about why Emmanuel Damas did not receive timely medical attention and why repeated requests for care were ignored. In March, my colleagues and I formally requested Mr. Damas’ medical records of care, complaints made to staff, and a full accounting of the circumstances leading to his death. To date, my office has not received the full records, transparency, or accountability that his family deserves. 

“In Arizona and across the country, we continue to see a deeply disturbing pattern of medical neglect, delayed treatment, and systemic cruelty inside ICE detention centers. When the federal government detains someone, it assumes responsibility for their safety, health, and well-being. This is exactly why robust congressional oversight is necessary. Mr. Damas deserved to be treated with dignity. Instead, he died in federal custody from a preventable condition that could have been easily treated with timely medical care. DHS must immediately provide full transparency and accountability for what took place and explain what steps are being taken to ensure that this never happens again.”