A Venezuelan man who was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Austin, Texas, remains detained in a federal processing center with a bullet still lodged near his spine, his attorney revealed on Monday. The incident has intensified scrutiny of ICE’s enforcement actions and sparked calls for transparency from local officials and community advocates.
What Happened
Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, 28, was shot in the back early Sunday afternoon by an ICE officer after the agent sideswiped his car while he was delivering a DoorDash order in Austin. Following the shooting, Garces Perez was initially taken to a hospital but was later transferred to the South Texas Processing Center in Pearsall, Texas — roughly two hours away from Austin — according to his lawyer Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch. During a Monday news conference, Garces Perez spoke by phone, describing severe pain and inadequate medical care in detention, noting that the bullet was not removed as it lies close to his spine. His lawyer said he also lacked access to pain medication and was confined to a cold room without a bed.
Law enforcement sources confirmed to CBS News that the ICE officer involved has been placed on administrative leave pending investigation. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that Homeland Security Investigations, part of ICE, is leading the investigation with FBI assistance.
Key Facts
Garces Perez reportedly entered the United States in 2024 from Venezuela through the CBP One app, a Biden administration initiative that allowed asylum seekers to enter legally at designated ports after booking appointments. Although he had a work permit and was seeking asylum, he received a deportation order in absentia after missing a court hearing due to a notice being sent to an outdated address. DHS announced it has terminated parole status for migrants admitted under the CBP One program and urged their immediate departure, despite a recent federal court ruling that challenged this policy. Representative Greg Casar, a Democrat representing parts of Austin, condemned ICE’s enforcement actions, emphasizing that Garces Perez has no criminal record and highlighting July federal data that show a record high in immigration arrests of individuals without criminal histories.
In addition to this case, similar incidents involving ICE shootings of immigrants have drawn attention in recent months. In July, an ICE officer fatally shot Houston construction worker Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, and another shooting involving a Colombian man occurred in Maine, leading to further calls for accountability within immigration enforcement agencies.
What This Means
This shooting highlights ongoing tensions surrounding ICE’s enforcement practices, particularly in local communities like Austin where public officials and residents increasingly question the role of federal immigration agents. The case underscores the challenges faced by immigrants who may have legal entry status or work permits but remain vulnerable to detention and deportation due to administrative issues such as receipt of court notices. Garces Perez’s detention with untreated injuries raises significant concerns about medical care standards within immigration detention facilities.
The incident is fueling demands for greater transparency, including calls for ICE to release body camera footage to the public, which advocates argue is essential for independent oversight. Politically, the shooting intensifies debates over immigration policy enforcement, the treatment of asylum seekers, and the balance between public safety and civil rights. Local officials like Rep. Casar argue that ICE’s actions in communities do not contribute to safety but rather create fear and trauma.
Background
The CBP One app was introduced under the Biden administration to facilitate orderly processing of asylum seekers at official border ports. Since its implementation, more than 900,000 migrants have used the app to request entry. However, DHS’s recent termination of parole protections for these migrants has led to legal challenges and confusion regarding their status. ICE’s increased operations, including arrests of individuals without criminal records, have sparked contentious debates in Texas and nationwide.
What Comes Next
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, with ICE committed to updating the public as more details become available. Local officials, community groups, and Garces Perez’s legal team continue to demand the release of all evidence, including body camera footage, and are advocating for improvements in detainee medical care. The broader context of immigration enforcement policies remains under scrutiny as federal courts and lawmakers address related legal challenges and policy decisions.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following source:
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