Venezuelan national charged with assaulting ICE officer in Austin

Key Points:

• Wilber Rafael Garces-Perez, a Venezuelan national, was charged with assaulting, resisting, interfering with, and impeding a federal officer after a vehicle pursuit and shooting incident involving ICE officers in Austin.
• Prosecutors allege Garces-Perez ignored commands to exit his vehicle, sped away, and struck an officer with his driver's side mirror, leading to a pursuit and the officer firing his weapon, injuring Garces-Perez.
• The incident is contested, with differing accounts on whether vehicles made contact and disputes over Garces-Perez's immigration status, including claims about outdated hearing notices and work authorization validity.
• Garces-Perez remains seriously ill with a bullet lodged in his body while held at an ICE detention facility, and his attorney has called for the release of body camera footage, which was reportedly turned off during part of the pursuit.
• Garces-Perez made his initial federal court appearance, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted, and has a detention hearing scheduled for October 2.