A Venezuelan national, Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, 28, was shot and wounded by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Austin, Texas, and is currently detained with the bullet still inside his body, according to his lawyer. Garces Perez stated he was delivering an order for DoorDash on Sunday when his vehicle was rammed by an ICE agent, resulting in the shooting. He reported significant pain from a fractured clavicle and that the bullet could not be removed due to its proximity to his spinal cord.
The shooting incident is under investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, part of ICE, with assistance from the FBI. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) noted that Garces Perez had 'illegally entered' the U.S. under the Biden administration and had a final order of removal. However, his attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, argued that he was in the U.S. legally with a work permit.
After being shot, Garces Perez was transferred from a hospital to a detention center in Pearsall, Texas, approximately 135 miles southwest of Austin. Lincoln-Goldfinch criticized the treatment he received, stating he was not given adequate medical care and was transferred without the bullet being removed.
Garces Perez recounted the events leading to the shooting, explaining that he was trying to find a safe place to pull over when he was chased and shot by the agent. He expressed confusion over the number of shots fired at him and stated there was no justification for the shooting.
In the wake of the incident, a makeshift shrine with flowers and candles has been placed near the shooting site, and local outrage has been expressed against ICE and its practices. According to DHS figures, nearly 51,000 undocumented migrants were arrested in the U.S. in August. This incident follows other recent shootings involving ICE agents, raising concerns about the agency's enforcement methods.