Liberty and Justice for All

Floor Speech

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Mrs. GRIJALVA. I thank Representative Torres and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus for hosting this Special Order hour.

In Arizona, we have seen firsthand why congressional oversight of our immigration detention systems matter. We have also been witness to inhumane conditions and violent attacks by ICE when trying to detain people on our streets and rip people from their cars or their homes.

Earlier this year, Emmanuel Damas, a Haitian asylum seeker, died after being held in ICE custody at the Florence detention facility in Arizona.

The Maricopa County Medical Examiner found that Mr. Damas' death stemmed from a severe infection connected to a serious dental disease. A toothache should never become a death sentence, not in Federal custody, not in Arizona, not anywhere in the United States, especially when someone is in the custody of the United States Government and completely dependent on that government for access to medical care.

Mr. Damas' death raises serious concerns that remain unanswered. Why did he not have timely medical treatment? Why were his requests for care ignored? How did a treatable condition progress into a fatal medical emergency while he was in Federal custody?

In March, my colleagues and I formally requested Mr. Damas' medical records and information about his request for treatment and a full accounting of the circumstances leading to his death.

ICE responded in May, but once again failed to provide any real answers. ICE's response said doctors believed Mr. Damas was suffering from septic shock caused by pneumonia; but the medical examiner found his death stemmed from severe infection connected to a serious dental infection.

When the Federal Government detains someone, it assumes responsibility for that person's health, safety, and well-being. Congress has a responsibility to make sure our government is meeting that obligation.

Unfortunately, what happened to Mr. Damas is not isolated. There have been 56 people who have died in ICE detention since Trump took office last year.

In Arizona and across the country, we continue to see reports of delayed medical treatment, inadequate care, deaths in custody, due process failures, and serious questions about conditions inside ICE and CBP facilities.

Families deserve answers. Congress deserves the information necessary to conduct meaningful oversight. When failures occur, there must be accountability.

Mr. Damas came to this country seeking asylum. While in Federal custody, he deserved humane treatment and appropriate medical care. His family deserves answers.

We need to continue demanding that DHS and ICE provide records and information necessary to fully understand what happened in Florence to Mr. Damas and what they are doing to make sure it never happens again.

We demand accountability. We demand justice for the individuals who have died and answers for the families and communities mourning their loss.

Every day that passes, more people will die, more people will forever be scarred from their time in detention, and more families will be ripped apart.

Remembrance is important, but remembrance without accountability is not enough.

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