A 19-year-old Mexican man has died while being held in detention by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Glades County Detention Center in Florida, the agency confirmed.
Royer Perez-Jimenez was found unconscious and unresponsive in his cell at 02:34 on March 16, according to an ICE statement. Prison staff immediately began life-saving efforts but could not revive him. The official cause of death remains under investigation, though ICE described it as a presumed suicide.
Perez-Jimenez was arrested in January and charged with fraud for impersonation and misdemeanor resisting an officer. Officials say he had illegally entered the United States at an unknown date. When admitted to the jail, he denied any behavioral health issues and answered 'no' to all suicide screening questions, according to ICE.
The Mexican government has requested more details about the death and called it unacceptable. 'The Government of Mexico reiterates that these deaths are unacceptable and once again calls on immigration authorities to carry out a prompt and thorough investigation,' the foreign ministry said in a statement.
What the Left Is Saying
Immigration advocates and Democratic lawmakers are using Perez-Jimenez's death to renew calls for ending immigration detention. Detention Watch Network, a group that tracks deaths in custody, said Perez-Jimenez is one of more than 42 migrant deaths in ICE facilities since Trump returned to office in January 2025.
Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey said the death reflects a 'broken system' that prioritizes detention over humanitarian care. 'We cannot keep treating immigrants as criminals to be locked up,' Booker wrote on social media.
Progressive advocacy organizations have called for independent oversight of detention facilities. 'These deaths are preventable,' said Michelle Ramos, policy director at the National Immigrant Justice Center. 'We need immediate independent monitoring of all ICE detention centers.'
What the Right Is Saying
Supporters of the administration's immigration enforcement say Perez-Jimenez's criminal history shows why detention is necessary. He was arrested on fraud and resisting officer charges, which they note occurred after he entered the country illegally.
House Judiciary Committee Republicans have defended the administration's detention policies, arguing that criminal aliens pose public safety risks. 'Those who enter our country illegally and commit crimes should be detained pending removal,' said a committee spokesperson.
Some conservative commentators have noted that Perez-Jimenez was screened for mental health concerns upon admission and showed no warning signs. 'The system followed its protocols,' said talk radio host Charlie Kirk. 'This is a tragedy, but it's not evidence of policy failure.'
What the Numbers Show
Under former President Joe Biden, 24 deaths were reported in ICE custody during his entire four-year term, according to ICE statistics. In the 14 months since Trump returned to office, Detention Watch Network reports more than 42 migrant deaths in custody.
Perez-Jimenez is the youngest prisoner to die in ICE custody since January 2025. He was held at the Glades County Detention Center, a private facility in rural Florida that contracts with ICE.
The number of people in immigration detention has increased significantly under the current administration. ICE reported average daily populations exceeding 30,000 in early 2026, compared to roughly 22,000 under Biden.
The Bottom Line
The death of Royer Perez-Jimenez marks a grim milestone as the youngest person to die in ICE custody under the current administration. While officials say cause remains under investigation, the incident has intensified scrutiny of immigration detention practices from both advocacy groups and international observers.
The Mexican government's formal request for investigation adds diplomatic pressure on US immigration authorities. What to watch: congressional hearings on detention conditions, potential updates from ICE on the investigation into Perez-Jimenez's death, and whether this case influences ongoing debates about immigration enforcement priorities.