(NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK) The number of ICE detainees who have died in U.S. custody this year has risen to 16 since January 2025, the highest tally in recent years and a flashpoint for growing concern over care, safety, and oversight inside immigration detention centers across the United States ??. The most recent case was reported in Nassau County, where local and state investigations are underway amid family disputes over the preliminary cause of death and advocacy claims that “horrendous” conditions are driving the rising death toll.
The Nassau County death involved a 42-year-old Honduran man, identified by officials as Santos Banegas Reyes, who died in late September 2025. Authorities said a preliminary finding listed “liver failure complicated by alcoholism,” a conclusion the family disputes. County and state officials have opened independent inquiries. This was the first death of an ICE detainee in Nassau County since the county started holding immigration detainees earlier in 2025.
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Surge in detainee population and enforcement changes
The spike in deaths has unfolded alongside a record surge in the detained population and tougher arrest targets under President Trump.
- As of late August 2025, ICE reported a detained population of more than 61,000—a record high.
- Enforcement guidance has called for the arrest of 3,000 people per day, seeking roughly one million arrests per year.
- Many of those now in detention have no criminal record, reflecting a shift in enforcement priorities compared with prior years under President Biden.
Advocacy groups and former officials say the system is straining under this pressure. They describe:
- overcrowding,
- delayed or inadequate medical care,
- poor conditions at some facilities.
They argue these “horrendous” conditions have contributed to the growing death toll. Families and attorneys also report delayed notifications when loved ones are hospitalized or pass away, and they call for faster, more transparent communication from authorities.
ICE response and oversight mechanisms
ICE says detainees receive medical, dental, and mental health screenings, as well as 24-hour emergency care. Agency officials emphasize that every in-custody death triggers a series of reviews, including:
- investigations by local authorities,
- inquiries by the state attorney general,
- in some cases, federal oversight.
Calls for wider legislative hearings and independent monitors have grown as deaths rise and families describe unanswered questions about the final days and hours of detainees’ lives.
For official information on detention operations and oversight, readers can consult ICE Detention Management: https://www.ice.gov/detention-management.
Historical context and trends
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, this year’s death toll marks a sharp rise compared with the early 2020s, though the fiscal year 2020 figure—21 deaths—remains the highest since 2006. While 2025 has not matched 2020’s total, advocates say the trend is worrying given enforcement pace and capacity limits. Nassau County has become a focal point because the latest death occurred there and because county officials only began housing ICE detainees this year.
Family experiences and transparency concerns
In interviews, immigrant families describe feeling shut out of the process. They say they:
- struggle to get timely updates on medical emergencies,
- are often told to wait while agencies coordinate among county facilities, ICE field offices, and state authorities,
- face deeper grief and distrust when official causes of death are disputed or autopsy results are pending.
In the Nassau County case, both county and state investigations are ongoing. The family is calling for a full, independent accounting of events and medical decisions.
“Transparency is as important as medical capacity,” family members say. They want timely notice when health declines, access to medical records, and clear explanations of treatment decisions.
Lawyers for detainees add that delays in record release and limited access to outside doctors make verifying official findings difficult. National groups will closely watch the ongoing inquiries for implications on broader accountability across the detention system.
Details and concerns about the Nassau County case
The death of Santos Banegas Reyes has stirred questions about:
- intake screenings,
- follow-up care,
- transfer decisions,
- differences between local jail operations and federal detention standards.
County facilities that contract with ICE to hold detainees may operate under different conditions than federal detention centers. Advocates want independent inspections of:
- medical staffing levels,
- recordkeeping,
- emergency protocols,
especially at sites that began housing ICE detainees this year. Officials say they are cooperating with investigators and emphasize that every death is reviewed for possible policy or practice changes.
System design, medical care, and broader implications
Advocates argue the current enforcement shift has filled detention centers with people who often have fewer health screenings and weaker support systems. Key points they raise include:
- Many detainees have medical histories facilities struggle to manage.
- The detention system is designed for civil immigration proceedings, not long-term incarceration, creating gaps in:
- chronic care,
- mental health support,
- emergency response.
Community groups in Nassau County say the recent case is a warning sign and urge local leaders to assess whether the county’s agreement to hold ICE detainees aligns with its capacity to ensure safe care. Clergy and service providers report increased anxiety among immigrant families who fear that routine encounters could lead to detention and, in the worst cases, tragedies they feel they cannot prevent.
Calls for oversight and possible policy responses
Lawmakers and advocates propose several possible actions:
- Hearings at the state or federal level for fuller public reporting on deaths, transfers, and care levels.
- Stronger state oversight of county facilities that hold ICE detainees under contract.
- Federal audits of sites with repeated complaints.
- Limits on the length of civil detention for people with serious medical needs.
- Independent monitors or inspectors at newly contracted facilities.
Key question going forward
As investigations proceed, the central question remains: Can a system designed for civil immigration custody manage a record number of detainees while delivering safe, timely medical care? For the families of the 16 people who have died this year, answers have been slow and often painful to obtain.
For Nassau County, the first death since it began holding ICE detainees has placed the county at the heart of a national debate that shows no sign of easing as enforcement intensifies and the detained population continues to grow.
This Article in a Nutshell
This year, 16 people have died in ICE custody, the highest recent tally, with the most recent death in Nassau County involving 42-year-old Santos Banegas Reyes. Preliminary findings cite liver failure complicated by alcoholism, but the family disputes that conclusion and both county and state investigations are underway. The rise in fatalities coincides with a surge in the detained population—over 61,000 by August 2025—and aggressive enforcement targets that aim for 3,000 arrests daily. Advocates report overcrowding, delayed or inadequate medical care, and poor conditions in some facilities. ICE maintains mandatory screenings and 24-hour emergency care, and says every death prompts reviews. Calls for legislative hearings, independent monitors, federal audits and better transparency are growing as communities and families seek accountability and clearer communication.
