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 new 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 early Monday, according to a statement from ICE. Officials said staff immediately began CPR, but he was pronounced dead a short time later. The agency described the death as “presumed suicide”, although the official cause remains under investigation.He was in custody for about a month after his arrest in January on charges including impersonating an officer and resisting arrest.

Investigation has begun into the cause of death at the youngest age

Pérez-Jimenez’s death is the 46th death recorded in ICE custody since January 2025 and the 13th this year alone. According to reports, he is the second prisoner to die in the same week.ICE said that after intake, the teen had denied any mental health concerns and was not flagged as a suicide risk during screening. His sudden death has prompted demands for accountability.Mexican officials described the incident as “unacceptable” and called for a thorough investigation. Officials from the Mexican Consulate in Miami have since visited the facility and requested detailed documentation.Advocacy groups also criticized the detention conditions. Carly Perez Fernandez of Detention Watch Network said such facilities isolate detainees and subject them to “deplorable conditions.”

Record deaths in ICE custody raise questions

Perez-Jimenez’s case comes as activists are describing a worrying increase in deaths in ICE facilities across the country.In a separate incident earlier this month, Mohammad Nazir Paktyawal, a 41-year-old Afghan refugee and father of six, died less than 24 hours after being detained in Texas. ICE said he complained of chest pain and shortness of breath before being admitted to the hospital, where he later died.Data from advocacy groups shows that more than 40 migrants have died in custody since the beginning of 2025. At least six suicides have been recorded in the past 13 months, the highest number in recent years.The deaths have coincided with a sharp increase in detentions. Nearly 70,000 immigrants are currently being held in various facilities in the US, the highest number on record – as the administration expands enforcement efforts.Critics have compared these figures to Joe Biden’s tenure, during which there were 24 deaths in four years.Lawmakers and activists say the rising numbers reflect systemic issues. Some have accused authorities of negligence, while others argue that the expansion of detention infrastructure is exceeding security measures.As several cases, including Pérez-Jimenez’s, remain under investigation, U.S. immigration officials are under immense pressure to explain the circumstances behind the deaths and implement reforms.