Migrant Detainee Dies in Florida ICE Facility Amid Calls for Investigation

19-Year-Old's Death Marks 46th Under Trump Administration

Glades County, FL — A 19-year-old Mexican migrant, Royer Perez-Jimenez, died on Monday at the Glades County Detention Center in Florida, a facility holding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees. ICE has reported the presumed cause of death as suicide, though an official investigation is ongoing.

Discovery and Timeline of Death

ICE officials stated that an officer found Perez-Jimenez "unconscious and unresponsive" at 2:34 a.m. on Monday. Staff immediately initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Two medical personnel arrived minutes later and determined Perez-Jimenez had no pulse, followed by fire rescue deputies who began life-sustaining interventions. Perez-Jimenez was ultimately pronounced dead at 2:51 a.m.

Alarming Trend in ICE Custody Deaths

This incident adds to a troubling pattern, marking the 46th reported death under ICE custody since the start of President Donald Trump's administration in January 2025, according to an Associated Press count. It is the second death in ICE custody this week and the 13th this year. Perez-Jimenez is the youngest to die in ICE custody since the beginning of Trump's second term.

International Outcry and Lack of Information

U.S. officials have remained silent on details regarding the death, with The Office of The District 21 Medical Examiner and the Florida prosecutor's office providing no information on the autopsy report or the case.

The Mexican government, however, issued a strong statement on Thursday:

Such immigration detention deaths are "unacceptable," and the Mexican government is urging a prompt and thorough U.S. investigation to prevent future occurrences.

Officials from the Consulate in Miami have since visited the Glades County Detention Center and requested documentation related to the case.

Scrutiny on Detention Conditions and Policy

Advocacy groups are reiterating concerns about the U.S. immigration detention system. Carly Pérez Fernández, communications director at Detention Watch Network, provided a stark assessment:

"The immigration detention system deprives people of freedom, isolates them, and subjects them to challenging conditions."

The Glades County Detention Center itself has a controversial history; it was previously closed by the Biden administration only to be reopened by the Trump administration. Florida hosts several immigrant detention centers, some of which have faced reports of unsanitary conditions, including worms in food, nonfunctioning toilets, and overflowing sewage. Policies that restrict immigration judges from releasing detainees during deportation proceedings have also led to more common prolonged detention.

Discrepancies in Arrest Records

Perez-Jimenez was initially arrested on January 22 by sheriff's officers in Volusia County, Florida, and charged with a felony for impersonation and resisting an officer. He was transferred to ICE custody one month later. However, a significant discrepancy has emerged: the Volusia County Sheriff's Office reported that a search of their system for Royer Perez-Jimenez under the provided name and arrest date yielded no record.