Family challenges ICE’s presumed cause of death for Honduran man in Nassau jail
ICE identifies detainee Santos Banegas Reyes; family says he was healthy, seeks independent autopsy as investigations broaden
Federal immigration officials on Tuesday identified the migrant who died in custody at a Nassau County jail last week and provided a preliminary cause of death: liver failure complicated by alcoholism, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Santos Banegas Reyes, a 42-year-old Honduran citizen who had been deported multiple times, died at the Nassau County jail after being arrested Sept. 18 by federal immigration agents.
Reyes' family pushed back on ICE's assessment, with attorney Oscar Michelen saying relatives were told of the death by a source rather than directly by federal officials. Michelen noted Reyes had no known health issues before his arrest, and Reyes' sister rejected ICE's claim that he was a heavy drinker or alcoholic.
Michelen said the family is pursuing an independent autopsy. Nassau County Sheriff Anthony LaRocco said the investigation will be thorough and transparent to determine the cause of death, and added that Nassau County takes seriously its obligation to treat every prisoner humanely.
The New York attorney general's office said it is investigating, and federal authorities noted that detainees receive medical, dental and mental health screenings and 24-hour emergency care at each detention facility.
The Nassau County deal with ICE, announced earlier, sets aside 50 cells at the East Meadow jail to hold detainees nabbed by ICE in New York City and Long Island. Under the agreement, migrants can be held for up to 72 hours before ICE either deports them or transfers them to a long-term detention facility, with the federal government reimbursing the county about $195 per detainee per night.
