Santos Banegas Reyes

Died: September 23, 2025 / 42 years old

Santos Banegas Reyes was a 42 year old Honduran citizen, day laborer and father of two daughters, who he was working to send money to. Santos was detained by ICE out side of a store in Hempstead New York on September 17, 2025. After being detained Santos was cleared in his initial medical screening, but died in his cell after only 18 hours in ICE custody.

ICE has claimed that Santos’s death was the result of liver failure caused by alcoholism, however his family is challenging that narrative. Santos’s family acknowledges that he did struggle with alcoholism and had previously been deported for drinking and driving, but they also insist that he had no known health conditions that would have caused such a sudden death. They also question why he was cleared for detention in his medical intake exam if he was so sick.

Aside, from illegal entry on four separate occasions and his DUI record Santos Banegas Reyes had no other arrests that I could find a record of.

*ICE has failed to provide a public death report as they are required to within 90 days in accordance with the DHS Appropriations act of 2018*