19-Year-Old Mexican Immigrant Dies in ICE Custody

Royer Perez-Jimenez passed away at the Glades County Detention Center in Florida

Mar. 19, 2026 at 10:52pm

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A 19-year-old Mexican immigrant named Royer Perez-Jimenez died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody this week at the Glades County Detention Center in Moore Haven, Florida. ICE stated that Perez-Jimenez's death is being investigated as a presumed suicide, though the official cause of death remains under investigation.

Why it matters

Perez-Jimenez's death marks the 44th person to die in ICE custody during the second Trump administration, raising ongoing concerns about the treatment and conditions of immigrant detainees in the U.S. immigration system.

The details

According to the notice from ICE, Perez-Jimenez entered the United States from Mexico on February 19, 2022 and was granted voluntary return. He later reentered the U.S. on an unknown date and was arrested in Florida, charged with felony fraud for impersonation and misdemeanor resisting an officer. ICE then placed an immigration detainer on him and he was transferred into ICE custody on February 21, 2026.

  • Perez-Jimenez entered the U.S. from Mexico on February 19, 2022.
  • Perez-Jimenez died in ICE custody on March 16, 2026.

The players

Royer Perez-Jimenez

A 19-year-old Mexican immigrant who died in ICE custody at the Glades County Detention Center in Florida.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The U.S. government agency responsible for Perez-Jimenez's detention and the investigation into his death.

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The takeaway

This tragic death highlights the ongoing concerns about the treatment and conditions of immigrant detainees in the U.S. immigration system, and the need for greater oversight and accountability to prevent such losses of life.