Venezuelan man shot and wounded by ICE agent in Texas is charged with assaulting an officer

Key Points:

• Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, a Venezuelan delivery driver shot by an ICE officer in Austin on Sept. 20, was charged with assaulting, resisting, and impeding a federal officer, one day before he was to challenge his immigration detention's legality in court.
• Garcés Pérez was shot in the upper back during an encounter while making DoorDash deliveries; his attorneys report the bullet remains near his spine, causing severe health risks, and he is currently in significant pain and wheelchair-bound.
• The criminal complaint alleges Garcés Pérez struck an ICE officer’s torso with his car’s side mirror and led officers on a high-speed chase; however, the officer who fired was not wearing a body camera, and no visual evidence supports the shooting circumstances.
• Garcés Pérez’s legal team was surprised by the criminal charges and court appearance, criticizing DHS and the government for withholding necessary medical care and transferring him between detention facilities, complicating his custody status.
• A federal judge had temporarily blocked deportation proceedings against Garcés Pérez last week, but his court hearing challenging detention was canceled, with his legal team continuing efforts to prevent his re-detention following criminal proceedings.