Man in custody at Long Island jail dies from liver failure, according to ICE report.
A recent incident at the Nassau County Correctional Center in Long Island has raised significant concerns regarding the treatment of detainees in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. Authorities confirmed that Santos Banegas Reyes, a 42-year-old man from Honduras, was found dead in his cell on September 18, 2023, less than 18 hours after being detained. His family has contested the circumstances surrounding his death, questioning the explanation provided by ICE.
According to ICE officials, the cause of death was attributed to liver failure, a determination that Banegas Reyes’s family has labeled as “absurd.” He had been arrested on September 17 and was in the process of being deported back to Honduras after receiving a notice of intent to reinstate a prior order of removal. While ICE has stated that his preliminary cause of death appears to be liver failure complicated by alcoholism, the agency also noted that the investigation into the circumstances remains ongoing.
The timeline of events has left many, including family members and legal representatives, bewildered. An attorney representing Banegas Reyes’s family expressed skepticism about the ICE statement, highlighting the discrepancies between the man’s apparent health prior to his arrest and the suddenness of his medical decline in custody. Videos reportedly show him behaving normally on the day of his arrest, further complicating the narrative surrounding his health status.
Nassau County officials, including County Executive Bruce Blakeman, weighed in on the tragedy, describing it as stemming from a “serious, latent medical condition” rather than negligence. Blakeman referred to the situation as “an unfortunate circumstance,” while asserting that correction officers acted appropriately in their handling of Banegas Reyes during his brief time in custody.
Records indicate that Banegas Reyes had a lengthy history with U.S. immigration authorities, having entered the country four times since at least 2004, which included multiple deportations. His case underscores the ongoing debates regarding ICE’s practices and the treatment of detainees facing deportation.
As the investigation into the death of Santos Banegas Reyes unfolds, it raises important questions about accountability and the healthcare provided to individuals held in immigration detention facilities across the nation. The outcome may have implications for policy and procedure moving forward, especially concerning the treatment of those in similar situations.
