Kamal Ghorui
A 19-year-old Mexican national has become the youngest person to die in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody since Donald Trump began his second term, raising fresh concerns over conditions inside immigration detention facilities.Royer Perez-Jimenez was found “unconscious and unresponsive” in his cell at the Glades County Detention Center in Florida in the early hours of Monday, according to an ICE statement. Officials said staff initiated CPR immediately, but he was declared dead shortly thereafter. The agency described the death as a “presumed suicide”, though the official cause remains under investigation.He had been in custody for about a month after being arrested in January on charges including impersonating an officer and resisting arrest.
Youngest death sparks scrutiny
Perez-Jimenez’s death marks the 46th reported fatality in ICE custody since January 2025, and the 13th this year alone. According to reports, he is also the second detainee to die within the same week.ICE said that upon intake, the teenager had denied any mental health concerns and did not flag suicide risk during screening. His sudden death has prompted calls for accountability.Mexican authorities termed the incident “unacceptable” and demanded a thorough investigation. Officials from the Mexican consulate in Miami have since visited the facility and requested detailed documentation.Advocacy groups also criticised detention conditions. Carly Pérez Fernández of Detention Watch Network said such facilities isolate detainees and expose them to “abysmal conditions”.
Record deaths in ICE custody raise questions
Perez-Jimenez’s case comes amid what activists describe as a worrying rise in deaths across ICE facilities nationwide.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 had complained of chest pain and shortness of breath before being hospitalised, where he later died.Data from advocacy groups indicate that more than 40 migrants have died in custody since early 2025. At least six suicides have been recorded in the past 13 months, the highest such figure in recent years.The deaths have coincided with a sharp increase in detentions. Nearly 70,000 immigrants are currently being held across facilities in the US, the highest number on record — as the administration expands enforcement efforts.Critics have contrasted the figures with the tenure of Joe Biden, during which 24 deaths were reported over four years.Lawmakers and activists say the rising toll reflects systemic issues. Some have accused authorities of negligence, while others argue the expansion of detention infrastructure is outpacing safeguards.With investigations ongoing into multiple cases, including that of Perez-Jimenez, US immigration authorities are under intense pressure to explain the circumstances behind the deaths and implement reforms.
