[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 57 (Thursday, March 26, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H2721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  REMEMBERING EMMANUEL CLIFFORD DAMAS

  (Ms. Ansari of Arizona was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Ms. ANSARI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in outrage over the negligence 
that led to the death of Emmanuel Clifford Damas on March 2, 2026.
  Emmanuel Damas was a 56-year-old Haitian asylum seeker who died after 
reportedly being denied adequate medical care while in ICE custody 
after complaining about a toothache to the staff at Florence 
Correctional Center in Arizona.
  On March 13, I traveled to the Florence Correctional Center to 
conduct an oversight visit. I was met by more than a dozen people, 
including, to my surprise, private counsel for CoreCivic, the company 
that operates the facility and profits from mass detention.
  When I asked basic questions about medical staffing, available care, 
and what happened to Mr. Damas, there was extreme reluctance, 
especially from the private lawyer.
  Under DHS leadership, and masterminded by Stephen Miller, the 
architect of the Trump administration's racist mass deportation agenda, 
ICE has made it nearly impossible for Members of Congress to do our 
jobs.
  Despite following ICE's arbitrary requirements, I was denied the 
ability to speak with detainees that day. I returned on March 20 and 
what I learned confirmed the worst. Detainees described Mr. Damas in 
excruciating pain. They called the medical care ``fatal.'' His face had 
swollen to the size of a potato. He could no longer speak or walk. 
Night after night, he begged for help but was ignored. ICE only checked 
his blood pressure. By the time he was taken to the hospital, he could 
barely breathe.
  Mr. Damas' death was a clear case of medical negligence at the hands 
of ICE. I have called for a full independent investigation into Mr. 
Damas' death, including the release of his medical examiner's report, a 
complete timeline of his care, and all medical records from his time in 
custody.
  My heart goes out to the Damas family. They should never have 
experienced such a tragedy, perpetrated by the U.S. Government and 
funded by our taxpayer dollars.
  These taxpayer dollars should be going to healthcare, to food 
assistance, and programs that support communities.
  Mr. Speaker, this is not the only case. My constituent, Yari, is 
currently detained while suffering from leukemia. She has endured 
severe medical neglect for over a year. What happened to Mr. Damas 
could very well happen to her. Every time I visit these detention 
facilities, it brings me to tears. It is sickening. It is traumatizing. 
It is deeply un-American.
  Firstly, I will not stop until there is an independent investigation 
into the death of Emmanuel Damas. At least 46 people have died in ICE 
custody under the Trump regime, and it cannot stand.
  Second, I will be a ``hell no'' on ICE funding. Republicans are 
blocking essential workers from being paid just to protect a lawless, 
violent ICE system, while Democrats are pushing to separate ICE funding 
from the rest of the Department of Homeland Security.
  Third, I urge my colleagues to sponsor my DRAIN ICE Act and the Stop 
Inhumane Conditions in ICE Detention Act. These bills would rescind 
ICE's $75 billion slush fund and improve oversight, transparency, and 
conditions in detention centers.
  Fourth, release my constituent, Yari, now so she can receive the care 
that she needs.
  Finally, it should not be that damn difficult to provide humane 
conditions. ICE and companies like CoreCivic and GEO Group have 
billions of dollars at their disposal, and yet are choosing to treat 
human beings in this country like animals.

  I will keep fighting until the American people know the truth about 
what is happening in ICE detention centers.

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