A 19-year-old Mexican citizen has become the youngest person to die in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody since Donald Trump’s second term, raising new concerns about conditions inside immigration detention facilities.Royer Perez-Jimenez was found “unconscious and unresponsive” in his cell at the Glades County Detention Center in Florida early Monday morning, according to a statement from ICE. Crews immediately performed CPR, but he was pronounced dead a short time later, officials said. The agency described the death as a “presumed suicide,” but the official cause of death remains under investigation.He has been in custody for about a month after being arrested in January on charges including impersonating a police officer and resisting arrest.
Youngest man’s death sparks scrutiny
Perez-Jimenez’s death is the 46th death reported in ICE custody since January 2025, and the 13th this year alone. He was also reportedly the second detainee to die in the same week.ICE said the teen denied any mental health issues when examined and did not indicate a suicide risk during the screening process. His sudden death sparked calls for accountability.Mexican authorities called the incident “unacceptable” and demanded a thorough investigation. Officials from the Mexican consulate in Miami later visited the facility and requested detailed documentation.Advocacy groups also criticized detention conditions. Carly Perez Fernandez of the Detention Watch Network said such facilities isolate detainees and subject them to “extremely harsh conditions.”
Record death toll in ICE custody raises questions
Perez-Jimenez’s case comes as activists say the death toll at ICE facilities across the country is rising alarmingly.In a separate incident earlier this month, Mohammad Nazeer Paktyawal, a 41-year-old Afghan refugee and father of six, died less than 24 hours after being detained in Texas. ICE said he complained of chest pain and shortness of breath before being taken to the hospital, where he later died.More than 40 immigrants have died in custody since the start of 2025, according to advocacy group data. At least six people have committed suicide in the past 13 months, the highest number in recent years.The deaths come amid a sharp increase in detentions. Nearly 70,000 immigrants are currently being held in facilities across the United States, the highest number on record, as the government ramps up enforcement.Critics compared the numbers to data from Joe Biden’s term, which saw 24 deaths reported during his four years in office.Lawmakers and activists say the rising death toll reflects systemic problems. Some accuse authorities of negligence, while others believe detention infrastructure is expanding faster than safeguards.U.S. immigration authorities are under intense pressure to explain the circumstances behind the deaths and implement reforms as investigations into multiple cases, including Perez-Jimenez’s, are underway.
