Mexican teen Royer Pérez dies in Florida ICE detention; family disputes suicide ruling
Mar 20, 2026·Location: Moore Haven, FL
Country of origin: Mexico

Royer Pérez-Jimenez, a 19-year-old indigenous Tzotzil Mayan from San Juan Chamula, Chiapas, Mexico, died on March 16, 2026, at Glades County Detention Center in Moore Haven, Florida, while in ICE custody. He had immigrated to the United States at age 15 to join an uncle but was left on his own after the uncle was deported. He worked continuously in a restaurant but earned minimal wages. On January 21, 2026, he was arrested during a traffic stop after giving a false name and was convicted of misdemeanors on February 19. He was transferred to ICE custody on February 21 and moved to the Moore Haven facility on February 26. On March 16 at approximately 2:34 a.m., he was found unresponsive in his dormitory; despite CPR efforts by detention staff and emergency responders, he was pronounced dead at 2:51 a.m. ICE stated the death was a presumed suicide, though the official cause remained under investigation. His father Manuel Pérez rejected the suicide conclusion and called for a thorough investigation. His death was one of at least 13 to 14 acknowledged deaths in ICE detention occurring between January and late March 2026.
Timeline
Sources
- A Mexican teen migrant dies in a Florida jail holding ICE detainees
NPR·Mar 20, 2026·archived copy
NBC News·Mar 20, 2026·archived copy
houstonpublicmedia.org·March 20, 2026, 2:42 AM·archived copy
ideastream.org·Mar 20, 2026·archived copy
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NBC News·Mar 31, 2026·archived copy
- Reuters
- CBS News
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CNN·Jul 14, 2026·archived copy
- 19-year-old Mexican migrant dies in ICE custody in Florida
cbs12.com·Mar 20, 2026·archived copy
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miaminewtimes.com·Mar 19, 2026·archived copy
- ice.gov
Mar 18, 2026·archived copy
- Indigenous Mayan Teen From Chiapas Is Youngest to Die in ICE Custody ~ L.A. TACO
lataco.com·Mar 19, 2026·archived copy
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detentionkills.substack.com·Mar 19, 2026·archived copy
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austinkocher.substack.com·Mar 19, 2026·archived copy
- Suicides in ICE detention rise as 911 logs reveal harrowing details of self harm
independent.co.uk·May 22, 2026·archived copy
- ICE Detainee Dies At FL Detention Center
patch.com·Mar 20, 2026·archived copy
- Joven inmigrante muere bajo custodia de ICE
telemundo40.com·Mar 20, 2026·archived copy
- 19-year-old Mexican immigrant dies in ICE custody this week, agency says
abc7news.com·Mar 19, 2026·archived copy
- Death of MN man at Texas detention facility raises concerns
www2.startribune.com·Jan 24, 2026·archived copy
- Day laborers, construction workers, waiters and laundry workers: The six Mexican lives that ended in the hands of ICE
english.elpais.com·Jul 9, 2026·archived copy
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