Tragic Death of Immigrant in Florida Jail Investigated by Authorities
MIAMI — A 19-year-old Mexican immigrant has died in a Florida county jail designated for holding immigrants, as confirmed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
ICE reports that Royer Perez-Jiménez “died of a presumed suicide,” though the official cause of death remains under investigation.
This incident marks the 46th death of an individual in ICE custody since President Donald Trump assumed office in January 2017, according to a tally by the Associated Press.
Perez-Jiménez is the second immigrant to die in ICE custody this week; an Afghan national, who reportedly surfaced in the U.S. after years of military service, succumbed in a Texas hospital following his detention by immigration authorities.
From the start of this year, there have been 13 reported deaths in ICE custody. Notably, Perez-Jiménez is the youngest individual to die in custody since President Trump’s second term began.
Calls for Accountability in Immigration Detention Facilities
The 21st District Medical Examiner’s Office has not responded to AP’s request for the autopsy report regarding Perez-Jiménez. The Florida Attorney General’s Office has directed all inquiries to the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Attorney General’s Office.
In a statement made public Thursday, the Mexican government condemned these fatalities in migrant detention as “unacceptable” and demanded a prompt and comprehensive U.S. investigation to prevent future occurrences. Officials from the Mexican consulate in Miami have visited the facility where Perez-Jiménez was held, seeking access to pertinent documentation related to the case.
Outcry from Advocacy Groups Following Recent Deaths
The death of Pérez Jimenez has ignited protests within immigrant communities. Carly Perez Fernandez, communications director for the Detention Watch Network—a national coalition opposing immigrant detention—noted, “The immigration detention system deprives people of their freedom, isolates them from their loved ones, and exposes them to dire conditions.”
According to ICE, personnel found Perez-Jiménez “unconscious and unresponsive” at 2:34 a.m. Monday at the Glades County Detention Center in Moore Haven, a facility that was closed under President Joe Biden but later reopened by the Trump administration. Moore Haven is located about 55 miles northeast of Fort Myers.
Details of the Incident Leading to Perez-Jimenez’s Death
ICE stated that staff members immediately called for medical assistance upon discovering Perez-Jiménez. Medical personnel arrived shortly after and found him without a pulse, leading fire and rescue units to initiate life-sustaining efforts. Ultimately, he was pronounced dead at 2:51 a.m.—just 17 minutes after being found.
Perez-Jiménez had been arrested by sheriff’s officials in Volusia County, a rural region of east-central Florida, on January 22, facing charges of felony impersonation and resisting a law enforcement officer. He was transferred to ICE custody a month thereafter.
Despite the Associated Press’ request for an arrest report from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office using the full name and date of arrest provided by ICE, the sheriff’s office reported that they found no record of Perez-Jiménez in their database.
Conditions in Florida’s Immigration Detention Facilities Under Scrutiny
Florida is recognized as one of the states most aligned with the Trump administration on immigration issues, housing several prominent detention centers, including the South Florida Detention Facility—often referred to as “Alligator Alcatraz”—and the Chrome North Service Processing Center. Reports from detainees highlight issues with substandard conditions, such as the presence of insects in food and malfunctioning toilets.
Long-term detentions have become increasingly prevalent across the nation during Trump’s current administration, largely driven by policies that restrict immigration judges from releasing detainees while deportation cases are pending, resulting in a backlog in overcrowded courts.
