Mexican Teen Dies in ICE Custody in Florida as Questions Emerge

Mexican Dies in ICE Custody

Suspected Suicide in Detention

Family Demands Immediate Investigation

A 19-year-old Mexican man died while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a detention center in Florida, authorities confirmed.

Why it matters: The case comes amid growing concerns about conditions in immigration detention centers and a rise in deaths under custody in 2026.

Royer Pérez Jiménez died last Monday at the Glades County Detention Center in Florida, according to Univision.

According to ICE, an officer found him unconscious inside the facility.

Death of Mexican Teen in ICE Custody in Florida

19-year-old Royer Perez-Jimenez has died in ICE custody at the Glades County Detention Center.

Perez-Jimenez appears to be the youngest person to die in ICE custody since the start of Trump’s second term. pic.twitter.com/wCgL5S3stA

— FactPost (@factpostnews) March 19, 2026

After the discovery, the officer immediately requested emergency medical assistance.

However, upon arrival, paramedics confirmed that the young man showed no signs of life.

ICE stated that the cause of death remains under investigation.

Preliminary findings, according to the agency, suggest it may have been a suicide.

So far, no further official details have been released regarding the circumstances of his death.

Denied Suicidal Tendencies Upon Intake

“A young Mexican man dies in ICE custody in Florida.”
https://t.co/b2gOVcopDq

— Diario La Prensa (@DiarioLaPrensa) March 19, 2026

According to ICE personnel, Royer Pérez Jiménez was evaluated by paramedics when he entered the facility in February.

During that initial assessment, he denied any suicidal behavior or tendencies.

This detail has raised questions about his condition prior to his death.

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U.S. outlet New Times reported that ICE spokesperson Nestro Yglesias declined to say whether the young man was under special supervision.

He also did not confirm whether there had been any alerts about possible suicidal behavior in the days leading up to his death.

The case represents the thirteenth death in ICE custody so far in 2026.

This figure has raised alarms among human rights organizations and immigrant communities.

Immigration History and Family Demands

“19-year-old Hispanic dies in ICE detention center in Florida.”
https://t.co/SZbgRI1nfK

— N+ UNIVISION MIAMI (@nmasUnivision23) March 19, 2026

Pérez Jiménez was first detained in February 2022, according to official information.

He was later deported and detained again on January 22, 2026.

The young man faced charges of identity fraud and resisting arrest.

Family members, originally from an Indigenous community in Chiapas, Mexico, sought help on social media.

Through Facebook, they asked for assistance in recovering his body.

Royer Pérez Jiménez became the youngest immigrant to die in ICE custody under the current administration.

The case adds to another death of a Mexican national reported on March 2 in Adelanto, California.

In response, Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an official statement.

The agency said it will demand an immediate and thorough investigation.

The goal, they stated, is to clarify the circumstances that led to the deaths of Mexican nationals in ICE custody.

What’s Next: Authorities are expected to determine the exact cause of death and any potential responsibility in the case. The ICE custody death in Florida continues to intensify scrutiny over detention conditions and enforcement policies in the United States.