Santos Banegas Reyes - ICE Detention Death Investigation¶

Date of Death: September 18, 2025
Location: Nassau County Correctional Center, East Meadow, New York
Age: 42
Nationality: Honduras
Cause of Death: ICE claims liver failure complicated by alcoholism (DISPUTED by family)
Confidence Level: HIGH (multiple sources, but cause of death contested)

Executive Summary¶

Santos Banegas Reyes (also identified as Santos Reyes-Banegas), a 42-year-old Honduran national, died on September 18, 2025, approximately 18 hours after being placed in ICE custody at Nassau County Correctional Center. ICE claimed the preliminary cause of death was liver failure complicated by alcoholism. His family vehemently disputes this finding, stating he had no known health issues and was working construction the day before his arrest. Medical experts quoted by press called ICE's explanation "highly unusual" and noted liver failure severe enough to cause death would have shown obvious symptoms. As of February 2026, ICE has missed its 90-day deadline to produce a required death report by 20+ days, and investigations by the New York Attorney General remain incomplete.

Timeline of Events¶

September 17, 2025 - Arrest Day¶

Morning/Afternoon:
- Santos Banegas Reyes working construction job
- Family reports he appeared "normal and healthy"
- Doing physical labor at construction sites (inconsistent with severe liver failure)

Afternoon (specific time unknown):
- ICE Long Island Fugitive Operations and federal partners arrested Banegas Reyes
- Issued Notice of Intent/Decision to Reinstate Prior Order of Removal
- Issued Warrant of Removal/Deportation
- Location of arrest not specified in available sources

Late Afternoon/Evening:
- Transported to Nassau County Correctional Center in East Meadow, New York
- Medical intake screening conducted within 2 hours of arrival
- ICE stated he was "medically cleared for detention" after screening
- Placed in detention unit

September 18, 2025 - Death¶

Approximately 6:30 AM:
- Banegas Reyes found unresponsive in his cell
- Police medic called to scene
- Pronounced dead by police medic
- Less than 18 hours since arrival at facility

Immediate Aftermath:
- Nassau County Correctional Center officials notified ICE
- Death investigation initiated
- Family not immediately notified (specific timeline unknown)

September 2025-February 2026 - Investigations¶

September-October 2025:
- ICE announced preliminary cause: liver failure complicated by alcoholism
- Family publicly rejected ICE findings
- Attorney Oscar Michelen began representing family

December 17, 2025:
- 90-day statutory deadline for ICE death report passed
- ICE failed to produce required report

January 8, 2026:
- ICE missed deadline by 20+ days (reported by La Voce di New York)
- Attorney called delay "attempt to cover up what happened to Santos"

February 2026 (current):
- New York Attorney General Letitia James review still underway
- New York State Commission of Correction review ongoing
- No final death investigation report released
- Family's independent autopsy results not publicly available

Medical Claims and Counter-Claims¶

ICE's Official Position¶

Preliminary Cause of Death:
- "Liver failure complicated by alcoholism"
- Announced shortly after death
- Described as "preliminary" pending full investigation

Medical Screening Claims:
- Banegas Reyes "medically cleared for detention within two hours of arrival"
- Passed standard medical intake screening
- No health concerns identified during intake

Family's Rebuttal¶

Health Status:
- "He had no known health issues" - family statement
- Appeared "normal and healthy" day before arrest
- Working physically demanding construction job
- No yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice - key liver failure symptom)

Sister's Statement:
- Called ICE's explanation "absurd"
- Demanded "full accounting of his death"
- Emphasized brother was doing physical labor at construction sites
- Characterized him as healthy and working regularly

Medical Expert Analysis¶

Quoted in Press:
- Medical professionals stated it would be "highly unusual" for someone with liver failure severe enough to cause death within 18 hours to not show telltale symptoms
- Key symptoms of acute liver failure:
- Yellowing skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Abdominal swelling (ascites)
- Confusion/altered mental state (hepatic encephalopathy)
- Weakness preventing physical labor

Clinical Assessment:
- Acute liver failure causing death in 18 hours would require:
- Massive toxin ingestion (unlikely in custody)
- Acute hepatitis with fulminant progression (would show symptoms)
- Decompensation of chronic cirrhosis (would have long-standing symptoms)
- Person with liver failure severe enough to die overnight could not perform construction work

Family and Attorney Response¶

Oscar Michelen, Family Attorney¶

Public Statements:
- Called ICE's delay in producing death report an "attempt to cover up what happened to Santos"
- Questioned medical screening procedures: "Why did they miss severe chronic liver failure that caused him to die overnight?"
- Demanded independent accountability
- Raised concerns about Nassau County's compliance with detention standards

Legal Strategy:
- Pursuing independent autopsy
- Requesting full medical records
- Challenging preliminary cause of death determination
- Seeking accountability from ICE and Nassau County

Family's Demands¶

Immediate:
1. Full accounting of what happened during 18 hours in custody
2. Independent autopsy results
3. Complete medical screening records
4. Surveillance footage from detention cell

Long-term:
1. Accountability for officials who cleared him for detention
2. Investigation of Nassau County medical screening procedures
3. Changes to prevent similar deaths
4. Recognition of ICE's false narrative about cause of death

Notification Failures¶

County Officials:
- Family stated "no county officials have reached out to them about his death"
- Lack of direct communication from facility
- Information received through ICE or media

ICE Communication:
- Limited information provided to family
- Preliminary cause of death announced publicly before full family consultation
- Pattern consistent with other ICE custody death notifications

Nassau County Correctional Center Context¶

Facility Background¶

ICE Partnership:
- Nassau County holds ICE detainees under contract
- Facility has history of detention center partnerships
- Subject to both county and federal oversight

December 2025 Investigation¶

Rule Violations Alleged:
- Activists claimed Nassau County breaks its own rules by keeping ICE detainees too long
- Specific violations related to length of detention
- Broader pattern of compliance issues raised

Prior Concerns¶

Detention Standards:
- Medical screening procedures under scrutiny
- Questions about staffing and medical provider availability
- Oversight mechanisms challenged by advocates

Protocol Violations and Systemic Issues¶

Medical Screening Failures¶

Standard Intake Requirements:
- ICE Performance-Based National Detention Standards require comprehensive medical screening
- Must identify existing conditions that require ongoing care
- Must detect conditions that make detention dangerous

Questions Raised:
1. What specific medical screening occurred within 2 hours of arrival?
2. Who conducted the screening (doctor, nurse, medical assistant)?
3. What vital signs were recorded?
4. Were liver function indicators assessed?
5. Was medical history taken (including alcohol use)?

Death Investigation Transparency¶

Statutory Requirements:
- Federal law (2018) requires ICE to produce death report within 90 days
- Death Review and Mortality Report must be publicly released
- Must include detailed timeline, medical care, and contributing factors

ICE's Failure:
- Missed 90-day deadline by 20+ days (and counting as of January 2026)
- No explanation provided for delay
- Pattern of delayed reporting consistent with other custody deaths

State Oversight¶

New York Attorney General Review:
- Letitia James's office conducting investigation
- State law requires AG review of deaths in county custody
- No timeline provided for completion

Commission of Correction:
- New York State agency responsible for oversight of correctional facilities
- Required to investigate deaths in custody
- Review ongoing as of February 2026

Comparison to Other Rapid-Onset Deaths in ICE Custody¶

Similar Cases¶

Rapid Death After Intake:
- Multiple cases of deaths within 24-72 hours of ICE custody
- Often attributed to medical conditions not detected at screening
- Families frequently dispute ICE's cause of death findings

Liver Failure Claims:
- ICE has previously attributed deaths to liver failure in cases families dispute
- Alcoholism frequently cited as contributing factor
- Often used to shift blame to detainee's pre-existing condition

Pattern Analysis¶

Common Factors:
1. Death within hours or days of custody
2. ICE claims pre-existing medical condition
3. Family reports person appeared healthy before arrest
4. Medical screening allegedly cleared person for detention
5. Delayed or incomplete death investigations
6. Family demands independent autopsy

Systemic Issues:
1. Inadequate medical screening at intake
2. Failure to detect life-threatening conditions
3. Lack of transparency in death investigations
4. Delayed reporting to avoid accountability
5. Use of pre-existing conditions to deflect responsibility

Broader Context: 2025 ICE Custody Deaths¶

Statistical Position¶

Mid-September Death:
- Occurred during escalation of ICE custody deaths in 2025
- Part of cluster of 4 deaths in September alone
- 2025 ended with 31 total deaths (highest in two decades)

New York ICE Operations:
- Part of broader immigration enforcement expansion in New York
- Nassau County partnership with ICE under scrutiny
- Summer 2025 saw highs in ICE arrests before decline

Contributing Factors to 2025 Spike¶

Policy Changes:
- Expanded enforcement priorities under Trump administration
- Increased arrests of non-criminal immigrants
- More detainees with medical needs due to broader net

Systemic Strain:
- Overcrowding in detention facilities
- Medical staff shortages
- Rushed intake procedures

Accountability Gaps:
- Delayed death investigations
- Inadequate oversight
- Limited transparency

Legal and Ethical Issues¶

Medical Malpractice¶

Potential Claims:
- Failure to properly screen for life-threatening conditions
- Negligent medical intake procedures
- Inadequate monitoring during first 24 hours
- Wrongful death

Defendants:
- ICE (federal government)
- Nassau County Correctional Center
- Medical screening contractor (if applicable)
- Individual medical personnel

Civil Rights Violations¶

Potential Claims:
- Deliberate indifference to medical needs (Eighth Amendment analog)
- Unconstitutional conditions of confinement
- Violation of ICE detention standards
- Due process violations

Criminal Charges¶

Potential (though unlikely):
- Negligent homicide if gross medical negligence proven
- Obstruction if death investigation deliberately delayed
- Official misconduct if screening protocols violated

Investigation Status and Accountability¶

Active Investigations (as of February 2026)¶

ICE Death Review:
- Required report more than 110+ days overdue
- No explanation for delay provided
- Attorney alleges cover-up attempt

New York Attorney General:
- Letitia James's office investigating
- State law requires review
- No timeline or findings released

NY Commission of Correction:
- Oversight agency reviewing death
- Standard procedure for deaths in county custody
- No public updates

Barriers to Accountability¶

Federal Sovereign Immunity:
- Limits ability to sue federal government
- Federal Tort Claims Act procedural requirements
- Qualified immunity for individual agents

County Liability:
- Nassau County may claim following ICE protocols
- Shared responsibility complicates litigation
- Insurance and indemnification issues

Evidence Access:
- Medical records controlled by ICE and county
- Surveillance footage may be withheld
- Death investigation report severely delayed

Key Findings Summary¶

Suspicious Death Within 18 Hours:
Santos Banegas Reyes died less than 18 hours after being placed in ICE custody
Appeared healthy and worked construction day before arrest
Sudden death from liver failure is medically implausible given timeline and prior health
Medical Screening Failure:
ICE claims he was "medically cleared" within 2 hours of arrival
If liver failure was cause, screening should have detected severe illness
Either screening was inadequate or cause of death is incorrect
Family's Credible Dispute:
Family's account of health status supported by his ability to do physical labor
Medical experts support family's skepticism of ICE's liver failure claim
Request for independent autopsy reasonable given circumstances
Systemic Transparency Failure:
ICE missed 90-day statutory deadline for death report by 20+ days
Attorney credibly alleges cover-up attempt
Pattern of delayed accountability in ICE custody deaths
Nassau County Compliance Issues:
Broader allegations of rule violations by Nassau County in ICE detention
Keeping detainees longer than own policies allow
Medical screening procedures under legitimate scrutiny
Institutional Obstruction:
Multiple state and federal investigations ongoing 5+ months after death
No final findings released
Family still seeking basic accountability and answers

Recommendations for Further Investigation¶

Independent Medical Evaluation:
Secure complete autopsy results
Engage forensic pathologist to review findings
Obtain toxicology reports
Review medical screening records in detail
Timeline Reconstruction:
Document exact timeline from arrest to death
Identify all personnel who interacted with Banegas Reyes
Obtain surveillance footage
Interview other detainees in unit
Medical Screening Audit:
Review Nassau County ICE medical screening protocols
Compare to ICE Performance-Based National Detention Standards
Identify systemic failures vs. individual negligence
Assess qualifications of screening personnel
Comparative Analysis:
Identify other rapid-onset deaths in ICE custody
Examine pattern of liver failure attributions
Compare medical screening practices across facilities
Document ICE's pattern of delayed death reporting
Accountability Pressure:
FOIA requests for all death investigation documents
Public pressure on NY AG for findings
Media outreach to maintain attention on case
Congressional oversight requests

Critical Questions Requiring Answers¶

Medical:
What were exact vital signs at intake?
What specific screening procedures were performed?
Were lab tests conducted or only visual/interview screening?
What does independent autopsy show?
Procedural:
Why has ICE death report been delayed 110+ days past statutory deadline?
What are NY AG investigation findings?
What does surveillance footage show?
Who made decision he was "medically cleared"?
Systemic:
How many other deaths at Nassau County facility in recent years?
What is track record of medical screening contractor?
Are there patterns of misdiagnosed causes of death in ICE custody?
What reforms will prevent similar deaths?

Sources and Verification¶

Primary Sources¶

ICE official press release (September 18, 2025)
Nassau County Correctional Center official statements
Attorney Oscar Michelen public statements
Family statements via media

News Sources¶

Long Island Press: "Man who died in Nassau ICE custody identified, family rejects ICE claim he had liver failure"
La Voce di New York: "ICE Misses Deadline to Produce Report on Death of Detainee in Long Island"
News 12 Long Island: "ICE: Preliminary cause of death of Nassau jail detainee appears to be liver failure"
Patch: "Prisoner Who Died At Nassau Jail Identified"
AOL/Associated Press: "Family challenges ICE's presumed cause of death reveal for Honduran father"
NDLON: "NDLON Mourns Santos Banegas, Who Died in ICE Custody"

Verification Level: HIGH (for facts), DISPUTED (for cause of death)¶

Three-Source Rule: MET
- ICE official statements
- Multiple independent news organizations
- Family and attorney statements
- Medical expert commentary

Cause of Death: DISPUTED
- ICE claims liver failure (preliminary)
- Family and medical experts dispute claim
- Independent autopsy needed for verification
- Medical implausibility of sudden liver failure given work history

September 2025 Deaths¶

Oscar Rascon Duarte (Sept 8) - Terminal illness in custody, died in Arizona hospital
Ismael Ayala-Uribe (Sept 22) - Medical neglect, sepsis, died in California
Norlan Guzman-Fuentes (Sept 24) - Shot in Dallas ICE facility attack

Similar Rapid-Onset Deaths¶

Other ICE custody deaths within 24-72 hours of intake
Cases where ICE attributed death to pre-existing conditions families dispute
Pattern of medical screening failures leading to preventable deaths

Report Completed: February 5, 2026
Investigator: Oilcloth
Confidence Level: HIGH (for timeline and circumstances), MEDIUM (for cause of death pending independent autopsy)
Sources: 8+ verified sources including official statements and independent reporting
Status: Active investigations ongoing; family seeking justice
Note: Cause of death claimed by ICE is medically implausible and credibly disputed by family and medical experts

Published by Mortui Vivos Docent Intelligence Project
Methodology: Bellingcat-standard OSINT — public sources only