DOJ charges Austin man shot by ICE with assault after high-speed pursuit
The Justice Department has charged Wilber Garcés Pérez, a Venezuelan man shot by an ICE officer in Austin on Sept. 20, with assaulting a federal officer. An unsealed affidavit alleges he struck an agent with his car mirror and led a high-speed chase. The shooting officer was not wearing a body camera, and the victim remains detained with a bullet lodged in his spine.
Key points
- DOJ filed assault charges against Wilber Garcés Pérez on Sept. 29.
- Affidavit claims he struck an officer with his side-view mirror and fled.
- The officer who shot him was not wearing a body camera.
- Garcés Pérez remains detained with a bullet lodged near his spine.
- A federal judge ordered an in-person hearing on Sept. 30.
Background
This incident follows a pattern of ICE use-of-force scrutiny in Texas. In early September, an ICE officer in Minnesota was charged with lying about a similar shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant. Garcés Pérez, a DoorDash driver, was previously reported to have a final order of removal, though his lawyers argue the notice was sent to an old address. Protests in Austin and Pearsall have demanded his release and medical care.
How outlets are covering it
The Washington Post and CBS News both report the DOJ charges but emphasize different details. CBS News highlights the conflicting accounts: the government claims Garcés Pérez fled, while he claims he was trying to park safely after an officer sideswiped his car. CBS also notes the officer who shot him was not wearing a body camera, a detail the Post mentions but does not emphasize as heavily. Both outlets agree on the core facts of the charges and the victim's current detention.
Why it matters
The case highlights ongoing tensions over ICE enforcement tactics, body-camera policies, and the treatment of immigrants in detention. The lack of body-camera footage from the shooting officer and the conflicting accounts raise questions about accountability and due process in federal immigration operations.
What to watch
Garcés Pérez is scheduled for an in-person habeas hearing on Sept. 30 in San Antonio. His attorneys are demanding immediate surgery for the lodged bullet and fractured clavicle. The outcome of the hearing could determine whether he is released or deported.
- Immigrant shot by ICE in Austin is charged with assault by Justice Department The Washington Post
- Assault Charge Reveals Existence of Body Camera Footage of ICE Shooting in Austin The New York Times
- Federal charge filed against man shot by ICE in Austin KXAN Austin
- Federal prosecutors charge Venezuelan man shot by ICE agent in Texas with assaulting an officer AP News
- Feds charge Venezuelan man shot by ICE agent with assaulting an officer CBS News
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