Family of man who died in ICE custody seeking to bring him back to Kentucky

Story by Ajay Patel, LEX 18

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18/UGC) – A family is now fighting to bring a 42-year-old Honduran citizen’s body home after his death while in ICE custody last week.

According to LEX 18, the man’s daughter, along with a former girlfriend in Lexington, are working to bring Santos Reyes-Banegas’ body home for burial.

“My baby has to suffer for the rest of her life knowing that her dad was taken by the hands of our government,” said Mary Diaz, former girlfriend of Reyes-Bangegas.

The initial cause of death of the 42-year-old, who went by the name “Allen,” was liver failure. Reyes-Bangegas did have a history of drinking.

However, Diaz isn’t convinced that’s how he died. When the former couple initially got together in 2014, Reyes-Bangegas reportedly had a physically demanding routine.

Diaz says they “want answers” and “knew he was healthy.”

The family found out Allen was dead from another prisoner who was at the same jail as him.

Now, nearly a week following his death, Diaz is heading to New York herself, attempting to gain some closure.

She said she will seek medical records.

A funeral service will also be held in Kentucky before transporting his remains to Honduras, where the rest of his family lives.

His daughter said she is using a jar to raise money to transport her father’s body for the service.

The family has also set up a GoFundMe to help with expenses. There’s also another GoFundMe set up in New York.

ICE says the death remains under investigation.