Tragic Death of 19-Year-Old Migrant Sparks Outrage Over ICE Custody Conditions

Fri Mar 20 2026 00:21:34 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Royer Perez-Jimenez, a 19-year-old Mexican migrant, died in ICE custody in Florida, drawing attention to the harsh realities faced by detainees. His passing marks the second immigrant death within a week in such facilities, prompting calls for reform.

Royer Perez-Jimenez, 19, died in the Glades County Detention Center where he had been held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Initially deemed a presumed suicide, his death reignited discussions surrounding the welfare of detained immigrants, particularly as it marks the second death within a week. His case is now under investigation, and the community is calling for improved conditions within ICE facilities amidst ongoing controversies about immigrant detention practices.

MIAMI (AP) — Royer Perez-Jimenez, a 19-year-old Mexican migrant, tragically died at a county jail in Florida that has been housing immigrant detainees, as reported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

ICE officials stated that Perez-Jimenez 'died of presumed suicide,' though the official cause of death remains under investigation. His death, which occurred on Monday, marks the 46th reported death under ICE custody since the beginning of President Donald Trump's administration in January 2025.

This incident also marks the second death of an immigrant in ICE custody within the same week. Shortly before Perez-Jimenez's passing, an Afghan immigrant who had previously been evacuated after working with U.S. forces succumbed in a Texas hospital after being detained by immigration authorities.

Since the commencement of 2026, 13 immigrants have died while in ICE custody, making Royer Perez-Jimenez the youngest detainee to die under ICE custody since the start of Trump’s second term.

The Office of The District 21 Medical Examiner has not yet released an autopsy report regarding Perez-Jimenez's death, leading to a request for more information to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Attorney General’s office.

The circumstances surrounding his death have raised significant concern within the immigrant community. Carly Pérez Fernández, communications director at the national coalition Detention Watch Network, stated, 'The immigration detention system deprives people of freedom, isolates people away from loved ones, and subjects people to abysmal conditions.'

ICE reported that Perez-Jimenez was found 'unconscious and unresponsive' at 2:34 a.m. in the Glades County Detention Center in Moore Haven, Florida. The facility was originally shut down by President Biden's administration but reopened under Trump.

Officers called for medical help immediately after discovering the unconscious teen and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation before emergency medical personnel arrived. Unfortunately, by the time he was pronounced dead at 2:51 a.m., the attempts to resuscitate him had failed.

Perez-Jimenez had been arrested on January 22 and initially charged with a felony before being transferred to ICE custody a month later. Importantly, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office indicated that Perez-Jimenez does not appear in their arrest records.

Florida houses several immigrant detention centers and has been known to align closely with the Trump administration's immigration policies. Reports from detainees illustrate concerning conditions, citing instances of inadequate food and sanitation.

Amid growing scrutiny of ICE practices and prolonged detention, advocates are calling for immediate reforms to ensure the safety and well-being of all detained immigrants.