A 19-year-old Mexican man has died while being held in detention by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency has confirmed.
Royer Perez-Jimenez was found unconscious and unresponsive on Monday at the Glades County Detention Center in Florida, according to a statement from ICE.
He died of a presumed suicide; however, the official cause of his death remains under investigation, the statement adds.
According to US media, Perez-Jimenez is the youngest prisoner to die in ICE custody since Donald Trump returned to office and launched a nationwide immigration crackdown.
Perez-Jimenez was found in his cell at 02:34 on March 16, according to ICE, which added that prison staff immediately began life-saving efforts.
The statement notes he was arrested in January and charged with fraud for impersonation and misdemeanour resisting an officer. Officials say he had illegally entered the US at an unknown date.
When he was admitted to jail, he denied any behavioral health issues or concerns and answered 'no' to all suicide screening questions, ICE says.
The Mexican government has requested more details about Perez-Jimenez's death, describing it as unacceptable.
The Government of Mexico reiterates that these deaths are unacceptable and once again calls on immigration authorities to carry out a prompt and thorough investigation to clarify the circumstances that led to this death, determine responsibility, and establish effective guarantees of non-repetition, the foreign ministry stated.
According to the Detention Watch Network, a group which opposes immigrant detention, more than 42 migrant deaths have occurred in custody since Trump retook office in January 2025.
The circumstances of Perez-Jimenez's death have raised broader concerns about the welfare of detainees, with critics pointing to a significant increase in migrant deaths compared to previous administrations. Under Joe Biden, only 24 deaths were reported during his entire four-year term, according to ICE statistics.
