A 19-year-traditional Mexican migrant, Royer Perez-Jimenez, died Monday at the Glades County Detention Center in Moore Haven, Florida, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. His death marks the 46th reported death of someone in ICE custody since the start of President Donald Trump’s administration in January 2025, according to an Associated Press count. The death of Perez-Jimenez is likewise the second this week, following the death of an Afghan immigrant in Texas.
ICE stated that Perez-Jimenez was found “unconscious and unresponsive” at approximately 2:34 a.m. And pronounced dead at 2:51 a.m., seventeen minutes later. Officials have described the death as a presumed suicide, though the official cause remains under investigation. The Glades County Detention Center, located about 55 miles northeast of Fort Myers, had been closed by the Biden administration before being reopened under the Trump administration.
The death has sparked immediate condemnation from immigrant advocacy groups. Carly Pérez Fernández, communications director at Detention Watch Network, a national coalition advocating against immigrant detention, stated that the immigration detention system “deprives people of freedom, isolates people away from loved ones, and subjects people to abysmal conditions.” This incident underscores growing concerns about conditions within ICE facilities and the well-being of those detained although awaiting immigration proceedings.
Details of the Incident and Initial Response
According to ICE, officers at the Glades County Detention Center immediately initiated emergency medical procedures upon finding Perez-Jimenez. Staff began cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and medical personnel arrived within minutes, determining he had no pulse. Fire rescue deputies continued life-sustaining interventions, but were unable to revive him.
Perez-Jimenez was arrested on January 22 by Volusia County sheriff’s officers and charged with a felony for impersonation and a misdemeanor for resisting an officer, ICE reported. He was transferred to ICE custody a month later, on February 21. At intake, medical staff evaluated Perez-Jimenez, who denied any behavioral health issues or concerns and answered “no” to all suicide screening questions, according to ICE.
However, a request by the Associated Press for the arrest report from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office yielded a surprising result: the office reported that Perez-Jimenez does not appear in their system. This discrepancy raises questions about the initial arrest and the information available to ICE upon taking him into custody.
A Growing Number of Deaths in ICE Custody
Perez-Jimenez is the youngest person to die in ICE custody since the beginning of Trump’s second term. This year alone, 13 immigrants have died while in ICE custody, according to available data. The death of the Afghan immigrant earlier this week, who family members said had been evacuated from Afghanistan after working with U.S. Forces, further highlights the risks faced by those in immigration detention. More details on the Afghan immigrant’s death are available from the Associated Press.
The rising number of deaths in ICE custody has drawn increased scrutiny to the conditions within these facilities. Florida, in particular, has become a focal point, aligning closely with the Trump administration’s immigration policies and housing several well-known detention centers, including the South Florida Detention Facility, often referred to as “Alligator Alcatraz,” and the Krome North Service Processing Center. Reports from detainees at these facilities have described unsanitary conditions, including worms in food, malfunctioning toilets, and overflowing sewage.
Policy and Prolonged Detention
Prolonged detention has become increasingly common nationwide during Trump’s current term, partly due to a policy that generally prohibits immigration judges from releasing detainees while their deportation cases are processed. The Associated Press has reported on the increase in prolonged detention. This policy contributes to overcrowding and potentially exacerbates the risks to detainees’ health and well-being.
The Mexican government issued a statement Thursday calling the deaths “unacceptable” and demanding a prompt and thorough U.S. Investigation to prevent future incidents. The Office of The District 21 Medical Examiner has not yet responded to a request from the Associated Press for the autopsy report, and the Florida prosecutor’s office has deferred inquiries to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Attorney General’s Office.
The investigation into Royer Perez-Jimenez’s death is ongoing. Authorities have not yet released a timeline for the completion of the autopsy or the findings of their investigation. Updates will likely be provided by ICE and the Department of Homeland Security as they become available.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out for help. You can contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 in the US and Canada, or by dialing 111 in the UK. These services are available 24/7, free, and confidential.
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