Video of Mexican teen’s arrest released after death in ICE custody

Video showing ICE detention reopens the case
Death under investigation
ICE under pressure

The release of new footage of Rogelio “Royer” Pérez-Jiménez’s arrest has reignited doubts about his death inside a migrant detention center in Florida.

In a case already generating international pressure and scrutiny over conditions in ICE custody.

New footage intensifies doubts in the ICE detention video case

New images from the arrest video have deepened concerns surrounding the case of Rogelio Pérez-Jiménez, a 19-year-old Mexican national, bringing renewed attention to his detention on January 21.

The young man died on March 16 inside the Glades County Detention Center in Florida.

The official account states that he was found “unconscious and unresponsive” at 2:34 a.m. in a room at the facility. Minutes later, his death was confirmed.

ICE maintains that the young man “died as a result of an alleged suicide; however, the official cause of death remains under investigation.”

Inconsistencies in identity and charges

The case has presented contradictions from the outset. While authorities identified him as Royer Pérez-Jiménez, jail records obtained by BBC Mundo list him as Rogelio Pérez, age 20.

According to those documents, he faced charges of “providing a false name at the time of arrest” and “resisting a law enforcement officer without violence.”

These inconsistencies have fueled doubts about how the case was handled and the conditions leading up to his death.

Family in Chiapas demands repatriation and answers

Rogelio was originally from San Juan Chamula, Chiapas. His father, Manuel Pérez Ruiz, explained that the young man worked in a restaurant in the United States and had migrated at age 15.

He was the eldest of five siblings.

The family is currently awaiting the repatriation of his body so they can lay him to rest in their community.

Mexican government calls death under ICE custody “unacceptable”

Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong statement: “these deaths are unacceptable.”

It also demanded a “prompt and thorough investigation” to clarify what happened, determine responsibility, and “establish effective guarantees of non-repetition.”

The Mexican Consulate in Miami has already visited the detention center and continues to support the family.

Organizations denounce abuses and rising deaths

The case is not isolated. Carly Pérez Fernández of Detention Watch Network expressed “outrage” over the increase in deaths in custody.

“No one is safe,” she said, referring to both enforcement operations and detention centers.

According to the organization, these facilities are “riddled with abuses,” a claim the government denies.

Data from various sources show a troubling increase:

13 deaths in 2025, according to organizations
46 deaths recorded by AP since January 2025
31 deaths reported by CBS News in the same period

Various testimonies and studies point to critical conditions in these facilities.

A recent report describes the Glades center as a “black hole,” in the words of researcher Emma Shaw Crane.

Documented complaints include:

Exposure to toxic chemical levels
Carbon monoxide leaks
Use of pepper spray as punishment
Lack of access to water and basic necessities

Issues such as spoiled food, damaged sanitation systems, and inadequate medical services have also been reported.

Stricter immigration policies in the United States

The case unfolds amid stricter immigration policies promoted by President Donald Trump since January 2025.

Measures include:

Increased detentions and deportations
Restrictions on asylum
Pressure on sanctuary cities
Greater border enforcement

Currently, ICE holds more than 68,000 people in detention across the country.

Additionally, Mexican authorities report that 13 Mexican nationals have died between 2025 and 2026 in custody or during immigration operations, calling the situation “absolutely painful and unacceptable for the government of Mexico.”

What’s next: pressure to clarify the ICE detention video

The release of the arrest video could become a key turning point in clarifying what happened.

As the investigation remains ongoing, the case of Rogelio Pérez-Jiménez adds to a growing list of deaths that continue to place the U.S. immigration detention system under scrutiny.

The outcome could have implications not only for his family but also for the broader debate on human rights and immigration policies in the country.

Source: BBC News / Telemundo/ La Silla Rota