Mexican Migrant Dies in Florida Detention Center: Suicide Under Investigation

Rogelio “Royer” Pérez-Jiménez, a 19-year-old Mexican migrant, was found “unconscious and unresponsive” at the Glades County Detention Center in Florida on March 16th. He died shortly after, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Official records, however, identify the deceased as Rogelio Pérez, 20 years old, and state he was arrested on charges of providing a false name to law enforcement and resisting an officer without violence. ICE reports that Pérez-Jiménez “died of presumed suicide,” though the official cause of death remains under investigation.

This case marks the 46th reported death under ICE custody since the start of President Donald Trump’s administration in January 2025, according to a count by The Associated Press. The death of Pérez-Jiménez is particularly notable as he is the youngest person to die in ICE custody since the beginning of Trump’s second term.

A Community Mourns, Questions Raised

Originally from San Juan Chamula, an Indigenous community in Chiapas, Mexico, Pérez-Jiménez had been working at a restaurant, according to his father, Manuel Pérez Ruiz, who spoke with Telemundo. He emigrated to the United States at age 15. The family is now awaiting the repatriation of his remains.

The Mexican government has issued a statement calling these immigration detention deaths “unacceptable” and demanding a “prompt and thorough” U.S. Investigation to prevent future occurrences. Officials from the Mexican Consulate in Miami have visited the detention facility and requested documentation related to the case.

Concerns Over Detention Center Conditions

Florida’s detention centers have faced increasing scrutiny, with families and advocates alleging inadequate access to medical care and substandard living conditions. The Glades County Detention Center, where Pérez-Jiménez died, has been specifically criticized. Some have described it as a place where detainees have been exposed to toxic cleaning agents, carbon monoxide leaks, and the use of pepper spray as punishment for requesting basic necessities like water and toilet paper, allegations ICE denies.

Emma Shaw Crane, a professor of Anthropology at Stanford University and a researcher on detention center conditions, described the Glades County facility as a “black hole” in a recent report. As reported by KCRA, the report details concerns about the treatment of detainees within the facility.

A Rising Number of Deaths in ICE Custody

The death of Pérez-Jiménez comes amid a surge in the number of migrants detained by ICE. In February, ICE held more than 68,000 people in detention centers across the country. According to NPR, 13 immigrants have died in ICE custody since the beginning of this year alone.

CBS News, in partnership with the BBC, reported that 31 detainees died in ICE custody in 2025. This increase coincides with a more aggressive approach to immigration enforcement under the current administration.

What We Recognize About Royer Pérez-Jiménez’s Case

Pérez-Jiménez was initially arrested by the Edgewater Police Department on January 21st and charged with fraud for impersonation and misdemeanor resisting an officer. He was held at the Volusia County Jail before ICE placed an immigration detainer on him on January 22nd. He was transferred to ICE custody on February 21st and subsequently moved to the Glades County Detention Center on February 26th.

At intake, Pérez-Jiménez was evaluated by medical staff. He reportedly denied any behavioral health issues or concerns and answered “no” to all suicide screening questions. However, the events leading up to his death remain under investigation. ICE’s official release details the timeline of events on March 16th, including the discovery of Pérez-Jiménez unconscious, the immediate initiation of CPR, and the arrival of emergency medical services.

Pérez-Jiménez had previously entered the United States on February 19, 2022, and was voluntarily returned to Mexico by U.S. Border Patrol on the same day. He later re-entered the country illegally, a federal felony.

The Office of The District 21 Medical Examiner did not respond to an Associated Press request for the autopsy report. The Florida prosecutor’s office referred any requests for information to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Attorney General’s Office.