Criminal illegal alien from Mexico passes away at Glades County Detention Facility

MIAMI - Royer Perez-Jimenez, 19, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico who was arrested and charged with felony fraud for impersonation and resisting an officer, passed away March 16 at the Glades County Detention Center in Moore Haven. He was pronounced deceased at 2:51 a.m.

At approximately 2:34 a.m., a Glades County detention officer on duty found Perez unconscious and unresponsive. They immediately called a medical emergency in the dormitory and staff started cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Two medical personnel responded a couple of minutes later, determined Perez to be without a pulse, and took over CPR. They requested emergency medical services. At approximately 2:42 a.m., Moore Haven Fire Rescue EMS arrived at the Glades County Detention Center and initiated life-sustaining interventions on Perez.

He died of a presumed suicide; however, the official cause of his death remains under investigation.

On Jan. 22, Perez was arrested by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office and charged with felony fraud for impersonation and misdemeanor resisting an officer. ICE placed an immigration detainer on him that same day, and he was transferred into ICE custody on Feb. 21. He was subsequently moved to Glades County Detention Center on Feb. 26. At intake, Perez was evaluated by medical staff. He denied any behavioral health issues or concerns and answered "no" to all suicide screening questions.

Perez initially entered the United States Feb. 19, 2022. He was encountered by the U.S. Border Patrol and granted a voluntary return to Mexico on the same day. On an unknown date, he illegally reentered the United States, a federal felony.

Consistent with ICE policy, ERO notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the DHS Office of Inspector General, and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility via the Integrity Coordination Center. ERO has notified the Mexico consulate in accordance with international and domestic laws and notified his next of kin or other designated contact.

ICE makes official notifications to Congress, nongovernmental organization stakeholders and the media upon official reports of in-custody alien deaths and posts news releases with relevant details on ICE's public website. You may access this information in ICE.gov's Newsroom. Congressional requirements described in the DHS Appropriations Act of 2018 require ICE to publicize all reports regarding in-custody deaths within 90 days. You may access these reports on ICE.gov's Detainee Death Reporting page.

ICE is committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay. All people in ICE custody receive medical, dental and mental health intake screenings within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility; a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arrival at a facility; access to medical appointments; and 24-hour emergency care. At no time during detention is a detained alien denied emergency care.