Hispanic in ICE custody dies in Florida; it is the thirteenth death of the year.
Key Takeaways
- A 19-year-old Mexican national, identified as Royer Pérez Jiménez, died while held at the Glades County Detention Center in Florida; ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) says the cause is under investigation and was preliminarily classified as an “apparent suicide.”
- It has been reported that his death brings the total number of deaths in ICE custody to 13 so far this year and to more than 40 under the current administration.
- Civil-rights groups and family members are renewing calls for independent investigations and for closure of the Glades facility amid longstanding complaints of neglect and abuse.
- ICE notified the Mexican consulate and the family, and relatives have requested help repatriating the youth’s body to his community in Chiapas.
What happened
ICE reported that Royer Pérez Jiménez, 19, was found unresponsive in the Glades County Detention Center around 2:30 a.m. on March 16 and was later pronounced dead. The agency says the death is being investigated and was preliminarily labeled an “apparent suicide.” It has been reported that Pérez Jiménez was detained in late January after local arrests in Volusia County on minor charges; other social media posts say he had been stopped for merging lanes on a scooter, though those details remain unverified.
Official account and scrutiny
ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) says it notified the Mexican consulate and reiterated commitments to safe, humane custody; DHS refers to the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE. Family members and advocacy groups dispute official narratives in similar recent cases and have asked for independent medical and forensic reviews. It has been reported that Pérez Jiménez would be the youngest person to die in immigration custody since President Trump returned to office, a claim that underscores the sharp public scrutiny on these deaths.
Context and human impact
The death amplifies long-running concerns about conditions at the Glades facility, which the ACLU and other organizations have urged to close, citing alleged medical neglect and abusive treatment. For migrants and their families, the case highlights the risks faced while detained: interruptions to access to timely medical care, limited oversight, and lengthy, opaque investigations after deaths. For someone navigating the immigration system now—whether detained or advocating for a relative—this means intensified calls for independent oversight, faster notification to families, and pressure on consular and legal services to assist with repatriation and investigations.
Source: Original Article