Early Thursday morning, a 42-year-old man detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was found unresponsive in his cell at Nassau County Correctional Center in East Meadow, Long Island. Paramedics and police arrived at the scene around 6:30 a.m., but despite their efforts, the man was pronounced dead shortly after being discovered "not breathing," according to statements from both Nassau County officials and the Nassau County Police Department, as reported by Newsday and Reuters.
The man, whose identity has not been released by authorities, marks the first known death of an ICE detainee in Nassau County since the controversial partnership between the county and federal immigration authorities began earlier this year. The arrangement, initiated in February 2025 by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, set aside 50 jail cells in the East Meadow facility specifically for individuals arrested by ICE in New York City and Long Island. Under this agreement, detainees can be held for up to 72 hours before being deported or transferred to a long-term detention center, with the federal government reimbursing the county $195 per detainee, per night.
Since the partnership’s inception, more than 1,400 migrant detainees have been held in Nassau County jails for ICE, according to county records cited by Newsday. This dramatic uptick is part of a broader trend: New York state’s county jails have detained nearly 2,800 people for immigration reasons in the first seven months of 2025 alone—an almost sixfold increase from the 500 such bookings recorded in 2024, as reported by New York Focus and ICE data.
The death has triggered a flurry of official investigations. Both the Nassau County homicide squad and the New York State Attorney General’s Office are probing the circumstances, with the state’s Commission of Correction also conducting a review as required by law. Sheriff Anthony LaRocco, who oversees the jail, assured the public in a statement to Newsday that, “There is an ongoing investigation, which will be thorough and transparent to determine the cause of death. Nassau County takes seriously its obligation to treat every prisoner humanely.”
Despite repeated requests from the media, ICE has not commented on the detainee’s death, nor have they provided information on whether federal agents were present at the facility at the time or the specific reasons for the man’s detention. County Executive Blakeman also declined to provide details, instead referring inquiries to the sheriff’s office.
For many local officials and advocacy groups, the incident has raised urgent questions about the county’s role in federal immigration enforcement and the safety of detainees. Legislator Seth Koslow, a Democrat from Merrick who is currently running for county executive, called the death “a tragedy that demands answers.” In a public statement, he announced his intention to call for a legislative hearing “to ensure transparency, responsibility, and justice for all residents, including anyone in our jails.” Koslow’s stance was echoed by U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen, whose district includes the East Meadow jail. She stated, “I am reaching out to the relevant federal, state and local officials and calling for a thorough, transparent investigation to understand how this occurred and what safety measures are utilized for detainees. Any death in a detention facility should cause significant concern.”
Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, went further, urging Nassau County to end its partnership with ICE entirely. “No human being should die in immigration detention,” Awawdeh said in a statement reported by Newsday. “The county had made a choice to jail this human being ... No municipal or county governments in New York should be using local resources to carry out the federal government’s mass deportation agenda.”
The broader context is stark. According to ICE figures cited by The Guardian, at least 14 people have died in ICE custody nationwide during fiscal year 2025, which began in October 2024. ICE has detained approximately 58,766 people this year as of early September, highlighting the scale and risks associated with immigration detention across the country. Nassau County itself is home to sizable Salvadorian and Guatemalan communities, populations that have been particularly affected by recent immigration enforcement actions.
County Executive Bruce Blakeman has defended the partnership with ICE, stating in July that “there is no evidence” to suggest any detainee has been held longer than the 72-hour maximum outlined in the agreement. He has also emphasized that the $195 per detainee per night reimbursement from the federal government helps offset county expenses. Critics, however, argue that the financial incentives do not justify the potential human cost, especially given the rapid increase in detainee numbers and the tragic outcome now under investigation.
While the cause of death remains officially undetermined pending the results of autopsies and investigations, the event has reignited debate over the intersection of local law enforcement and federal immigration policy. Advocates for detainee rights and immigrant communities contend that local jails are ill-equipped to safely manage the unique challenges posed by federal immigration detention, particularly as detainee numbers surge. The New York State Attorney General’s Office and the Commission of Correction are expected to scrutinize not only the specific circumstances of the death but also whether jail protocols, medical care, and detainee oversight met required standards.
For Nassau County residents and the broader public, the incident has become a flashpoint in ongoing discussions about immigration enforcement, public safety, and governmental accountability. As investigations proceed, both supporters and opponents of the ICE partnership are likely to intensify their efforts to shape the county’s future policies. The outcome of these inquiries—and any subsequent legislative or administrative actions—will be closely watched by advocates, officials, and community members alike.
For now, the East Meadow jail remains under a cloud of scrutiny, its role in the federal immigration system a subject of heated debate and soul-searching. As the investigations unfold, many are left wondering whether this tragedy will prompt meaningful change—or simply become another statistic in a year already marked by rising deaths in immigration detention nationwide.
