A 19-year-old Mexican national has died while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Florida, marking the youngest fatality within the agency’s detention system since the start of the second Trump administration.
Royer Perez-Jimenez was discovered “unconscious and unresponsive” in his unit on March 16 at the Glades County Detention Center, according to an official statement released by ICE on Thursday. While authorities have indicated the preliminary cause of death is presumed suicide, a formal investigation into the circumstances remains ongoing.
The Timeline of Custody
Perez-Jimenez’s path to the Moore Haven facility began on January 22, when he was arrested by local authorities in Volusia County, Florida. He faced charges of felony fraud for impersonation and misdemeanor resisting an officer.
- February 21: Transferred to ICE custody.
- February 26: Moved to the Glades County Detention Center.
- March 16: Pronounced dead following a medical emergency in his cell.
ICE officials stated that Perez-Jimenez underwent a medical evaluation upon intake. “He denied any behavioral health issues or concerns and answered ‘no’ to all suicide screening questions,” the agency’s press release noted, defending its initial processing protocols.
Escalating Fatality Rates in 2026
The death of Perez-Jimenez underscores a surging mortality rate within the federal immigration detention system. He is at least the 11th person to die in ICE custody since January 1, 2026.
The list of decedents this year spans a wide demographic range, from 27-year-old Jairo Garcia-Hernandez to 68-year-old Luis Beltrán Yanez–Cruz. However, Perez-Jimenez’s age has drawn specific condemnation from human rights advocates, who argue that the detention of young adults in high-security environments poses unique psychological risks.
A History of Violations at Glades County
The Glades County Detention Center has long been a flashpoint for controversy. A comprehensive report released in January by the ACLU of Florida and the Detention Watch Network detailed a “persistent pattern of abuse” at the facility spanning over a decade.
Investigative findings and witness testimonies cited in the report include:
- Chemical Exposure: Use of toxic antimicrobial sprays in poorly ventilated areas.
- Environmental Hazards: Documentation of a disabling carbon monoxide leak.
- Punitive Measures: Allegations of staff using pepper spray on detainees requesting basic necessities, such as water and sanitation supplies.
“These hazards made the air inside the jail unbreathable and collectively punished detained people,” stated Emma Shaw Crane, an assistant professor at Stanford University and lead author of the report.
Political and Legal Context
The death occurs as the Trump administration continues its aggressive “Zero Tolerance” enforcement posture, which has led to a rapid expansion of the detained population. Critics argue that the speed of these operations has outpaced the agency’s ability to ensure medical and psychological oversight.
Perez-Jimenez had a prior history with border authorities, having first encountered U.S. Border Patrol in February 2022. At that time, he returned to Mexico voluntarily to avoid a formal removal order before later re-entering the United States without inspection.
As the Office of Professional Responsibility at ICE and local medical examiners conduct their reviews, calls for the closure of the Glades County facility are intensifying among Florida lawmakers and civil rights organizations.
