Migrant’s Death in Nassau County Jail Identified
Federal immigration authorities have confirmed the identity of a migrant who passed away while in custody at Nassau County Jail last week, with an initial cause of death being investigated further.
The deceased, 42-year-old Santos Banegas Reyes from Honduras, was reported to have died from “complex liver failure due to alcoholism,” according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). However, the official cause of death is still under review.
Reyes, a father and construction worker, was arrested by federal agents on September 18. He was found unresponsive in his cell shortly thereafter. Lawyers representing Reyes’ family have noted that he had been apprehended just hours prior.
This wasn’t Reyes’ first encounter with immigration enforcement; he had previously been deported three times and had entered the U.S. illegally at least four times between 2004 and 2019. Reports indicate that ICE had previously labeled him a detainee with a history of alcohol-related issues.
Despite this, Reyes’ family has disputed ICE’s assertions regarding the cause of death, stating that they were informed of his passing through unofficial channels rather than directly from federal authorities. Micheln, the lawyer for the family, contends that Reyes had shown no known health problems before his death and that the family denied any claims about heavy drinking.
“It’s quite a coincidence, isn’t it?” Micheln remarked, questioning the timing of Reyes’ death so soon after his arrest. “A seemingly healthy man dies of chronic liver failure on the very day he’s taken by ICE.”
A relative, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions, expressed that Reyes seemed “normal and healthy” the day before his arrest. The family is reportedly looking into conducting an independent autopsy to understand better what happened.
Nassau County Sheriff Anthony Larocco mentioned that the ongoing investigation into the case is thorough and aims to be as transparent as possible to determine the exact circumstances of Reyes’ death.
In a statement, Sheriff Larocco noted, “Nassau County takes its obligation to treat all prisoners humanely.” Meanwhile, the state attorney general’s office is also looking into related protocols.
The federal government highlighted that all detainees receive necessary medical, dental, and mental health screenings and are entitled to 24-hour emergency care at detention facilities.
This unfortunate incident comes alongside a recent partnership between Nassau County and ICE, which has allowed for the establishment of 50 cells at East Meadow Prison to temporarily hold detainees taken into custody from New York City and Long Island.
Under the terms of this agreement, detained immigrants can remain in custody for up to 72 hours before being deported or moved to longer-term detention facilities.
