ICE Confirms Inmate Who Died At LI Correctional Facility Was A Detainee Who Entered U.S. Illegally 4X

LONG ISLAND, NY — U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials have confirmed that an inmate who died at a Nassau correctional facility was an ICE detainee.

An ICE representative had previously told Patch that the man was not in their custody but later, issued the correction.

According to ICE, Santos Reyes-Banegas, a 42-year-old illegal alien and citizen of Honduras in the agency's custody, was pronounced deceased by medical professionals at the Nassau County Correctional Center in East Meadow on September 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, ICE said. His cause of death is still under investigation; however, the preliminary cause appears to be liver failure complicated by alcoholism, ICE said.

He was at the Nassau County Correctional Center for fewer than 18 hours before being found unresponsive in his unit, ICE said.

According to a release issued by ICE, on an unknown date and at an unknown place, Reyes illegally entered the United States without admission or parole. He ended up entering the country illegally at least four times, ICE said.

On Aug. 27, 2004, ICE New York City encountered Reyes and initiated removal proceedings, officials said.

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, ICE said.

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, officials said.

Reyes again 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, ICE said.

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 said.

ICE reinstated Reyes’ prior removal order and returned him to Honduras for the third time on Oct. 24, 2019, officials said.

Then, on an unknown date and time, Reyes illegally reentered the United States for the fourth and last time, officials said.

On Sept. 17, 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, officials said.

Consistent with ICE policy, ERO, New York City's field office, 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 said.

On Monday, Reyes, the prisoner who died at Nassau County Correctional Facility was identified, according to his family.

A GoFundMe page, reportedly created by the family of Santos Edilberto Banegas Reyes, 42, says help is needed to "cover funeral expenses and to bring Santos’s body home to Honduras."

A protest was scheduled for Monday evening at the Nassau County Jail.

"We Demand Justice for Saints and All Innocent Immigration" was scheduled for the prison entrance.

According to the New York Post, in a partnership with federal officials, Nassau County has designated 50 cells at the jail for ICE detainees; the feds were slated to reimburse the county $195 per detainee, per night, the outlet said. Reyes was the first to die in ICE custody in Nassau, officials said.

"There is an ongoing investigation, which will be thorough and transparent, to determine the cause of death. Nassau County takes seriously its obligation to treat every prisoner humanely," said Nassau County Sheriff Anthony LaRocco last week.

Reyes was a father of two children and a Honduran national, according to the GoFundMe description.

"The family is still awaiting answers about the circumstances of his passing," the GoFundMe page said. "At this moment, the family is grieving deeply and asking for help to cover funeral costs and transportation to Honduras, so Santos can be laid to rest in his homeland. Any donation, no matter the size, will make a difference and provide comfort to his children and loved ones. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity, prayers, and support."

Reyes was found unresponsive in his cell on Thursday morning, police said. His body was taken to the county's medical examiner's office.

Additionally, New York Attorney General Letitia James is investigating the circumstances surrounding his death, police said.

Reyes' sister took part in a livestream broadcast and said "neither jail nor immigration have communicated with their relatives." The livestream was posted on Osman Canales' Facebook page.