Key Takeaways
• Isidro Pérez, 75, died in ICE custody at Krome North Service Processing Center on June 26, 2025.
• 2025 has 13 ICE custody deaths nationwide; Florida accounts for half with overcrowded, underfunded facilities.
• Families and advocates call for medical reforms, alternatives to detention, and transparency following Pérez’s death.
Isidro Pérez’s Death in ICE Custody: A Deep Dive into Systemic Issues, Policy Debates, and Human Impact
Isidro Pérez, a 75-year-old Cuban immigrant, died in ICE custody in Miami on June 26, 2025. His passing at the Krome North Service Processing Center has become a powerful symbol of the ongoing crisis in U.S. immigration detention. The case raises urgent questions about how the United States 🇺🇸 treats elderly, long-term residents with old convictions, and it highlights growing concerns about detention conditions, medical care, and enforcement priorities.
This article explores the circumstances of Pérez’s death, the broader trends in ICE detention, the policy debates it has sparked, and what it means for families, detainees, and the future of immigration enforcement.
Who Was Isidro Pérez? A Life Spanning Two Countries
Isidro Pérez arrived in the United States 🇺🇸 in 1966 at age 16, paroled under the Cuban Adjustment Act. He built a life in South Florida, working as a mechanic and fisherman, and lived in the community for nearly 60 years. Like many Cuban immigrants of his generation, Pérez came seeking safety and opportunity during a time of political upheaval in Cuba 🇨🇺.
His criminal record dates back to the early 1980s. Pérez was convicted twice for possession of a controlled substance, including a well-known marijuana bust involving 1,500 pounds. He served 18 months in prison and two years on probation. According to family members and court records, these were his only convictions.
For decades, Pérez lived quietly in Florida, raising a family and staying out of trouble. His stepdaughter, Alba Patricia Gomez, described him as a loving father and questioned why someone his age, with such old offenses, would be targeted for detention and deportation.
The Arrest and Detention: What Happened?
On June 5, 2025, ICE officers arrested Isidro Pérez at a community center in Key Largo. The arrest was based on his decades-old drug convictions, which made him “inadmissible” under the Immigration and Nationality Act. This law allows the government to detain and deport non-citizens with certain criminal records, even if those convictions are from many years ago.
Pérez was taken to the Krome North Service Processing Center in Miami, a facility that has faced repeated scrutiny for its medical care and detention conditions. Within weeks, Pérez began experiencing chest pains and other health problems.
On June 25, 2025, he was hospitalized for heart-related issues at HCA Kendall Florida Hospital. After being returned to Krome, he suffered another episode and died at the hospital the next evening. The official cause of death is still under investigation, with autopsy and medical reports expected within 90 days, as required by law.
ICE Custody Deaths: A Record-Setting Year
Pérez’s death is the fifth in ICE custody in Florida this year, and Florida now accounts for half of all ICE in-custody deaths nationwide in 2025. As of June 30, ICE has recorded 13 deaths in custody this fiscal year, already surpassing last year’s total of 12. Experts warn that 2025 could become the deadliest year on record for ICE detention.
Several factors are driving this trend:
- Overcrowding: ICE facilities are operating at 140% capacity, with over 56,000 people detained.
- Underfunded Medical Services: Many facilities struggle to provide timely and adequate medical care.
- Poor Oversight: Investigations have found lapses in monitoring and responding to health emergencies.
The Krome North Service Processing Center, where Pérez was held, has been singled out for repeated problems with medical care. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, recent deaths in Florida ICE facilities often involve delayed or substandard treatment, especially for detainees with pre-existing conditions or advanced age.
Family and Public Reaction: Calls for Answers and Reform
Pérez’s family, especially his stepdaughter Alba Patricia Gomez, has spoken out about the shock and pain of losing a loved one in detention. They question why elderly, long-term residents are being detained and deported for offenses that happened decades ago.
Their concerns echo those of many families and advocacy groups, who argue:
- Detaining elderly or sick immigrants for old, non-violent offenses is unnecessary and cruel.
- Many deaths in ICE custody are preventable with better medical care and oversight.
- The system should focus on alternatives to detention, especially for vulnerable populations.
National and local media have covered Pérez’s case, and immigrant rights groups are calling for investigations and urgent reforms. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Physicians for Human Rights have released reports showing that many ICE deaths are linked to systemic failures in medical care and oversight.
ICE’s Response and Official Procedures
ICE has confirmed Pérez’s death and stated that all required notifications were made to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Office of Inspector General, the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility, and the Cuban Consulate.
By law and agency policy, ICE must:
- Notify Congress, the media, and the public within two business days of any in-custody death.
- Publish a news release and, within 90 days, a full investigative report.
- Provide medical, dental, and mental health screening within 12 hours of arrival, a full health assessment within 14 days, and 24-hour emergency care access for all detainees.
ICE maintains that no detainee is denied emergency care. In a statement, the agency said: “ICE remains committed to ensuring that all those in its custody reside in safe, secure, and humane environments… At no time during detention is a detained illegal alien denied emergent care.”
Tom Homan, the U.S. Border Czar, defended ICE’s standards, stating, “People die in ICE custody, people die in county jails, people die in state prisons… The question should be, how many lives does ICE save?”
However, advocacy groups and investigative journalists continue to document lapses in care and call for independent oversight.
The Bigger Picture: Enforcement, Health Risks, and Policy Debates
ICE has increased enforcement actions in recent years, including against elderly and long-term residents with decades-old convictions. This has led to more vulnerable individuals being detained, many of whom have serious health problems.
Overcrowding and inadequate medical care make detention especially risky for people like Isidro Pérez. Experts warn that these conditions can turn minor health issues into life-threatening emergencies.
After a detainee’s death, ICE must:
- Notify DHS, the Office of Inspector General, and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility.
- Notify the detainee’s consulate and family.
- Publish a news release and, within 90 days, a full investigative report.
These steps are meant to ensure transparency and accountability, but families and advocates say more needs to be done to prevent deaths in the first place.
Multiple Perspectives: Experts, Families, and Officials
Medical and legal experts have found that many ICE deaths are preventable. Reports by the ACLU and Physicians for Human Rights in 2024 linked deaths to systemic failures in medical care and oversight.
Families of deceased detainees, like Pérez’s, are demanding transparency, accountability, and a reevaluation of policies that target elderly or rehabilitated immigrants. They want to see alternatives to detention and better protections for vulnerable people.
Government and ICE officials insist that detention standards are high and that all detainees receive necessary care. However, critics point to repeated problems and call for independent investigations and reforms.
What Happens Next? Investigations and the Push for Reform
The official cause of Isidro Pérez’s death is still under investigation. Autopsy and medical records are expected to be released within the next 90 days, as required by law. These findings will be closely watched by families, advocates, and policymakers.
The surge in deaths has fueled calls in Congress and among advocacy groups for:
- Alternatives to detention, such as supervised release or community-based programs.
- Improved medical oversight and funding for detention facilities.
- A review of enforcement priorities, especially for elderly and long-term residents.
Legislative proposals to limit detention of vulnerable populations and expand community-based alternatives are under discussion. However, as of July 2025, no major changes have been enacted.
Practical Guidance for Families and Detainees
For families affected by ICE detention or deaths in custody, it’s important to know your rights and available resources:
- Official ICE Detainee Death Reporting: All official reports and updates are posted on the ICE Detainee Death Reporting page.
- ICE Public Affairs: For official statements and media inquiries, contact the ICE Office of Public Affairs through the ICE.gov website.
- Legal and Advocacy Support: Organizations such as the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and National Immigrant Justice Center offer resources and support for families and detainees.
If you or a loved one is detained, it’s important to seek legal help as soon as possible. Immigration lawyers can help challenge detention, request medical care, and advocate for release, especially for those with health problems or advanced age.
The Human Cost: Why Isidro Pérez’s Story Matters
Isidro Pérez’s death is not just a statistic. It’s a reminder of the real people affected by immigration policies and detention practices. His story has sparked a wider debate about how the United States 🇺🇸 treats elderly, long-term residents with old convictions, and whether the current system is fair, humane, or effective.
Key takeaways from this case include:
- Aggressive enforcement can put vulnerable people at risk, especially those with health problems or advanced age.
- Overcrowding and poor medical care in ICE facilities are leading to preventable deaths.
- Families and communities are demanding change, calling for alternatives to detention and better oversight.
- Policy debates are ongoing, with possible reforms on the horizon but no major changes yet.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, the case of Isidro Pérez highlights the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and a careful review of how immigration laws are enforced—especially for those who have lived in the United States 🇺🇸 for decades and pose no threat to public safety.
Looking Ahead: What Can Be Done?
Investigations into Pérez’s death and others are ongoing. The results may lead to changes in how ICE handles medical care and detention for elderly or sick detainees. Congress and advocacy groups continue to push for reforms, including:
- Limiting detention for vulnerable populations.
- Expanding community-based alternatives to detention.
- Improving medical care and oversight in detention centers.
For now, families, advocates, and policymakers are watching closely, hoping that the tragedy of Isidro Pérez’s death will lead to meaningful change.
If you have a loved one in ICE custody or are concerned about detention conditions, visit the ICE Detainee Death Reporting page for official updates, or reach out to legal and advocacy organizations for help. The story of Isidro Pérez is a call to action for a safer, fairer, and more humane immigration system in the United States 🇺🇸.
Learn Today
ICE Custody → Detention supervised by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for non-citizens facing deportation or investigation.
Krome North Service Processing Center → A Miami ICE detention facility known for overcrowding and medical care challenges.
Cuban Adjustment Act → A law allowing Cubans to obtain permanent residency after one year in the United States.
Inadmissible → A legal status denying entry or continued presence due to past criminal convictions or violations.
Autopsy → A medical examination to determine the cause of death, often required after deaths in custody.
This Article in a Nutshell
Isidro Pérez’s 2025 death in ICE custody spotlights critical flaws in medical care and overcrowding at Krome North, accelerating calls for detention reforms.
— By VisaVerge.com
