Venezuelan Delivery Driver Detained in Texas with Bullet Lodged Near Spine After ICE Shooting

Key points

• Wilber Rafael Garces Perez was shot in the back by an ICE officer after a traffic stop in Austin, Texas, on Sunday.
• He was transferred to the South Texas Processing Center in Pearsall, Texas, with the bullet still lodged near his spine.
• His lawyer, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, states he is in significant pain and lacks access to pain medication or proper medical attention.
• The ICE officer involved has been placed on administrative leave, and Homeland Security Investigations is leading the investigation with FBI assistance.
• Garces Perez entered the U.S. in 2024 using the CBP One app and had a deportation order issued in absentia after missing a court hearing due to a notice sent to an old address.
• Local officials and lawmakers are demanding transparency and the release of body camera footage from the incident.

Background

This incident follows a series of ICE use-of-force incidents in Texas, including the July shooting and killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston and the shooting of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Maine. In April, a federal judge in Boston ordered the Trump administration to restore the legal status of those processed under the CBP One app, but DHS argued the president has the authority to determine who remains in the country. Immigration arrests of those without criminal records reached a record high in July, according to federal data.

How outlets are covering it

CBS News and AP News both report on the shooting and the subsequent detention of Garces Perez. CBS News provides more detail on the medical condition of Garces Perez and the demands for transparency from his lawyer and local officials. AP News focuses on the broader context of ICE enforcement and the investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations. Both outlets highlight the lack of body camera footage and the concerns about ICE's use of force.

Why it matters

This incident raises serious concerns about the use of force by ICE officers and the adequacy of medical care for detainees. It also highlights the broader issues of immigration enforcement and the legal status of those processed under the CBP One app. The lack of transparency and the demands for body camera footage underscore the need for accountability and oversight in immigration enforcement.

What to watch

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and the public awaits more information from Homeland Security Investigations. Local officials and lawmakers are demanding the release of body camera footage and the release of Garces Perez for medical treatment. The legal status of those processed under the CBP One app remains a contentious issue, with DHS arguing the president has the authority to determine who remains in the country.