Honduran national in ICE custody passes away

NEW YORK - Santos Reyes-Banegas, a 42-year-old illegal alien and citizen of Honduras in ICE custody, was pronounced deceased by medical professionals at the Nassau County Correctional Center in East Meadow Sept. 18. Reyes arrived at the Nassau County Correctional Center Sept. 17 and per protocol, went through medical intake, where he was cleared for detention within two hours of arrival. His cause of death is still under investigation. However, the preliminary cause appears to be liver failure complicated by alcoholism. He was at the Nassau County Correctional Center for fewer than 18 hours before being found unresponsive in his unit.

On an unknown date and at an unknown place, Reyes illegally entered the United States without admission or parole. On Aug. 27, 2004, ICE New York City encountered Reyes and initiated removal proceedings. An immigration judge granted Reyes voluntary departure Sept. 20, 2004, and on Oct.16, 2004, Reyes departed from the U.S. to Honduras via John F. Kennedy International Airport.

U.S. Border Patrol arrested Reyes for illegal reentry in Casa Grande, Arizona, Aug. 12, 2005, and turned him over to ICE custody. ICE removed Reyes to Honduras 10 days later.

Reyes illegally reentered the U.S. at an unknown place and location. On Sept. 3, 2019, the Kentucky State Police in Morehead, Kentucky, arrested Reyes for failure to appear on an unknown charge and booked him into the Montgomery County Detention Center in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky. The Montgomery County Detention Center notified ICE of his arrest the following day. Officials at the Montgomery County Detention Center released Reyes to ICE Chicago custody pursuant to an immigration detainer Sept. 5, 2019. ICE reinstated Reyes' prior removal order and returned him to Honduras for the third time on Oct. 24, 2019.

On an unknown date and time, Reyes illegally reentered the United States for the fourth and last time. On Sept. 17, 2025, ICE Long Island Fugitive Operations and federal partners arrested Reyes and issued him a notice of intent/decision to reinstate prior order of removal and warrant of removal/deportation. ICE detained Reyes at the Nassau County Correctional Center.

Consistent with ICE policy, ERO New York City notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Office of Inspector General, and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility via the Joint Intake Center. ERO New York City provided email notification of Reyes' death to the Honduran Consulate in New York.

ICE makes official notifications to Congress, nongovernmental organization stakeholders and the media upon an official report of a detained illegal alien's death and posts a news release with relevant details on the ICE public website within two business days, per agency policy. This information may be accessed in the ICE.gov Newsroom. Additionally, congressional requirements described in the DHS Appropriations Bill of 2018 require ICE to make public all reports regarding an in-custody death within 90 days.

These reports may be accessed on the Detainee Death Reporting page.

ICE remains committed to ensuring that all those in its custody reside in safe, secure, and humane environments. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay. All people in ICE custody receive medical, dental and mental health screening and 24-hour emergency care at each detention facility. At no time during detention is a detained illegal alien denied emergent care.