MIAMI — A 19-year-classic Mexican migrant, Royer Perez-Jimenez, died Monday at the Glades County Detention Center in Florida, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The agency stated Perez-Jimenez’s death is presumed to be a suicide, though an official cause of death remains under investigation. This incident marks the 46th reported death of a person in ICE custody since the beginning of the Trump administration in January 2025, according to a count maintained by The Associated Press.
The death of Perez-Jimenez is the second this week involving someone in ICE custody. Earlier this week, an Afghan immigrant—who family members said had been evacuated from Afghanistan after years of working with U.S. Forces—died in a Texas hospital while detained by immigration authorities, as reported by the Associated Press. More details on that case are available from the AP. Thirteen immigrants have died in ICE custody since the start of 2026, making Perez-Jimenez the youngest to die during this period of the Trump administration.
The Office of the District 21 Medical Examiner has not yet responded to a request from the Associated Press for the autopsy report. The Florida prosecutor’s office has directed information requests to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Attorney General’s Office. The Mexican government issued a statement Thursday calling the death “unacceptable” and demanding a swift and thorough U.S. Investigation to prevent similar incidents. Consulate officials in Miami visited the detention center and requested documentation related to the case.
Details of the Incident at Glades County Detention Center
ICE reported that officers found Perez-Jimenez “unconscious and unresponsive” at 2:34 a.m. Monday. Staff at the Glades County Detention Center, located in Moore Haven, approximately 55 miles northeast of Fort Myers, immediately initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Medical personnel arrived within minutes and determined Perez-Jimenez had no pulse before fire rescue deputies arrived to continue life-sustaining efforts. He was pronounced dead at 2:51 a.m., seventeen minutes after being discovered, according to ICE.
The Glades County Detention Center has a complex history regarding its operation. The facility was previously shut down by the Biden administration but was reopened under the Trump administration. This reopening has drawn scrutiny from immigration advocates.
Arrest and Detention Details Remain Unclear
Perez-Jimenez was initially arrested on January 22 by Volusia County sheriff’s officers and charged with a felony for impersonation and resisting an officer, ICE stated. He was transferred to ICE custody a month later. However, a request by the Associated Press to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office for the arrest report 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 circumstances leading to his detention by ICE.
Concerns Over Florida’s Immigration Detention Practices
Florida has emerged as a state closely aligned with the Trump administration’s immigration policies and houses several prominent detention centers. These include the South Florida Detention Facility, often referred to as “Alligator Alcatraz,” and the Krome North Service Processing Center. Detainees at these facilities have previously reported unsanitary conditions, including finding worms in food, malfunctioning toilets, and overflowing sewage. Details about Krome North can be found in this AP report.
Prolonged immigration detention has become increasingly common nationwide during the current administration, partly due to a policy that generally restricts immigration judges from releasing detainees while their cases are processed. This policy contributes to overcrowding and potentially exacerbates the challenges faced by those in custody.
Advocacy Groups Respond
Perez-Jimenez’s death has sparked condemnation from immigrant advocacy groups. Carly Pérez Fernández, communications director at Detention Watch Network, a national coalition opposing immigrant detention, stated, “Immigration detention system deprives people of freedom, isolates people away from loved ones, and subjects people to abysmal conditions.” The organization advocates for alternatives to detention and highlights the detrimental effects of the current system on the well-being of migrants.
The circumstances surrounding Royer Perez-Jimenez’s death are still under investigation. ICE has not released further details regarding the presumed suicide, and the results of the autopsy are pending. The Mexican government has requested a full accounting of the events leading to his death. The next step in the investigation will be the completion of the autopsy report by the District 21 Medical Examiner, which will hopefully provide more clarity on the events of Monday morning.
This is a developing story. We will continue to update this report as more information becomes available. If you have been affected by this news or are struggling with difficult emotions, resources are available. You can reach 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.
