EAST MEADOW, N.Y. – A 48-year-old Honduran national died while in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody at the Nassau County Correctional Center in East Meadow, officials confirmed.
According to ICE, the man was taken into custody on September 12, 2025, by members of the Long Island Fugitive Operations Team. He was being held pending removal proceedings when he was transported to the Nassau County Correctional Center.
On September 21, 2025, the detainee experienced a medical emergency and was pronounced dead later that day. ICE stated that the cause of death is pending review by the Nassau County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The man’s identity has not been publicly released, but officials said his next of kin in Honduras have been notified. ICE also reported that he had multiple prior arrests in the United States and had been ordered removed from the country on a previous occasion.
The agency noted that, in accordance with standard procedures, the incident has been referred to the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties has also been notified.
This marks the latest instance of an in-custody death at a Long Island facility used for federal immigration detainees, a situation that has drawn public concern in past years.
Honduran National In ICE Custody Passes Away
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Individual | 48-year-old male, Honduran national |
| Custody | ICE Long Island Fugitive Operations Team; housed at Nassau County Correctional Center, East Meadow |
| Date of Custody | September 12, 2025 |
| Date of Death | September 21, 2025 |
| Location of Death | Nassau County Correctional Center |
| Cause of Death | Pending Medical Examiner’s review |
| Next of Kin | Notified in Honduras |
| Investigations | ICE Office of Professional Responsibility; DHS Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Office |
| Prior Record | Previous U.S. arrests and prior order of removal reported by ICE |
Q&A
Q: Where did the death occur?
A: At the Nassau County Correctional Center in East Meadow, where ICE holds immigration detainees.
Q: Who was the individual?
A: A 48-year-old man from Honduras. His name has not been publicly released.
Q: What caused the death?
A: The Nassau County Medical Examiner’s Office is reviewing the cause of death. No determination has been made.
Q: Who is investigating the case?
A: ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties are reviewing the incident.
Q: Was the family notified?
A: Yes. ICE stated that the man’s next of kin in Honduras were informed.
