ICE reports death of two immigrants in its custody

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed the death of two people in custody at separate detention centers, bringing the total number of immigrant deaths in the agency’s care this fiscal year to 18—the highest in the past five years.

Ismael Ayala-Uribe, 39, originally from Mexico, died Sept. 22 at the Victor Valley Global Medical Center in Victorville, California.

According to a statement, Ayala was transferred from the Adelanto detention center to receive medical care for an abscess in his buttock and was scheduled for surgery. He also had hypertension and abnormal tachycardia. Despite resuscitation attempts after being found unconscious, Ayala died.

The cause of his death remains under investigation.

Another death at Nassau County Correctional Center

A 42-year-old Honduran man died while in ICE detention in New York.

The agency reported the death of Santos Reyes Banegasat the Nassau County Correctional Center in East Meadow, east of New York City, from suspected liver failure "complicated by alcoholism," according to the preliminary cause released in an agency statement.

Reyes Banegas died on Sept. 18, just 18 hours after arriving at the detention center. According to the agency, he had undergone a medical examination on Sept. 17, as required by protocol, and was declared admissible.

Authorities noted that the official cause of death of the Honduran man is still under investigation, as he was found unconscious in his detention unit.

ICE explained that Reyes Banegas, "who entered the United States illegally four months ago," admitted to a history of alcohol abuse. The last time the Central American entered the country, following deportations in 2004, 2005 and 2019, authorities arrested him on Long Island, where they began deportation proceedings.