Cuban Man Dies in ICE Custody: Calls for Investigation Intensify

Key Largo, Florida, USA - In a troubling development that underscores the ongoing crisis within the U.S. immigration detention system, Isidro Pérez, a 75-year-old Cuban citizen, died on June 26 after being in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to El Diario de Sonora, Pérez was initially detained on June 5 in Key Largo on charges of inadmissibility under the Immigration and Nationality Act. He reported experiencing chest pain just hours before his death and was transferred to HCA Kendall Hospital after resuscitation efforts failed to stabilize him.

Pérez, who had been in the Krome Service Processing Center, had a record of multiple medical conditions that contributed to his unstable cardiac health. His hospitalization lasted from June 17 to June 25 before, sadly, his health deteriorated again within just 24 hours post-discharge. Official records indicate he had been paroled in the U.S. since 1966 and had previous drug-related convictions in the 1980s. In compliance with its protocols, ICE has informed the Department of Homeland Security, the Office of the Inspector General, and the Cuban Consulate about Pérez’s death.

The Growing Crisis in Detention Centers

Beyond Pérez’s tragic death, June 2025 marked a grim milestone, with at least 11 immigrant deaths reported in ICE detention under the Trump administration, a situation that could worsen as reports suggest a potential 12th death. VisaVerge points out that the detention facilities are currently at a staggering 140% capacity, holding over 56,000 migrants. Of significant concern are the conditions within these centers, where overcrowding and inadequate medical care have been widely criticized.

The increasing rate of detentions and deportations has sparked backlash, as the Trump administration implements plans aimed at tripling the capacity of the immigration detention system. Indeed, advocates argue that the protocols for reporting deaths in custody are failing, with delays often noted in public disclosures. An alarming report from 2024 concluded that a staggering 95% of the deaths in ICE detention from 2017 to 2021 could have been prevented with proper medical attention.

Investigations into Preventable Deaths

Highlighting these issues further, the ACLU, along with Physicians for Human Rights and American Oversight, released a report titled „Deadly Failures: Preventable Deaths in U.S. Immigration Detention.“ This comprehensive analysis, based on over 14,500 pages of documents, reviews the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 52 individuals in ICE custody between 2017 and 2021. Critically, it notes the failures of the Department of Homeland Security in thorough investigations and the dire need for systemic improvement in ICE facilities. The report recommends immediate action from DHS, Congress, and local governments to avert further tragedies, illustrating that the current oversight remains deficient, as outlined by ACLU.

The tragic situation surrounding Isidro Pérez serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to reassess the treatment of individuals held in immigration detention. Advocates from organizations like the ACLU and the American Immigration Lawyers Association continue to push for alternatives to physical detention, emphasizing that the lives of those detained are at stake. As the scrutiny around ICE practices grows, it becomes increasingly clear that the systems in place require significant reform to prevent further loss of life.