LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — A spike in ICE raids across the country is also leading to more deaths while in custody.
One recent case involves Santos Eliberto Banegas Reyes, a 42-year-old Honduran national, who died less than 18 hours after being detained.
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Oscar Michelen, who represents Reyes and his family, said the deaths are preventable.
“You’re taking in more people; you’re sending them to facilities that are not equipped to handle that volume and that quick capacity,” said Michelen. “So, it’s going to happen, but generally speaking, someone should not die in custody. Period.”
According to ICE, Reyes entered the U.S. illegally four times. He was arrested in September by ICE Long Island Fugitive Operations.
“What we know is that he was detained in front of a store, a deli, and identified that he had no documentation here in the states, apparently,” Michelen said.
ICE said Reyes was held at the Nassau County Correctional Center for less than 18 hours before being found unresponsive. Officials said his death was likely due to liver failure complicated by alcoholism.
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“You should be getting medically screened, and then if you have some kind of medical condition that warrants medical attention, you should be transferred to that medical facility,” added Michelen.
Michelen said the cause of death raises more questions than answers.
“How did this happen so quickly to somebody who was in your care and custody?”
The family has launched a GoFundMe to help bring Reyes’ body back to Honduras.
“Try to consider the humanity of a person who had no way to his own medical care because he was in custody and should not die at the hands of neglect or some kind of intentional wrongdoing,” Michelen said.
According to the agency, all in-custody deaths are reviewed by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.
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