Venezuelan Man Shot by ICE in Austin Seeks Medical Care From Detention Amid Escalating Enforcement Tensions

A Venezuelan national who was shot by a federal immigration officer during a weekend traffic stop in Austin, Texas, has spoken out from a detention center to demand better medical care. Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, 28, was wounded by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Sunday afternoon while working as a DoorDash food delivery driver on the city's north side. The incident has intensified local tensions surrounding an ongoing federal immigration enforcement surge in the Texas capital.

Speaking to his attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, via a phone call during a press conference on Monday afternoon, Garcés Pérez said he had not received adequate medical attention and was suffering from severe pain. His lawyer stated that a bullet remained lodged near his client's spine because medical professionals reportedly deemed it too close to operate on safely at this stage. Garcés Pérez recounted spending the night sleeping on the floor of a cold holding room at the South Texas ICE Processing Center in Pearsall, located approximately 140 miles from Austin, after being transferred from a local hospital late Sunday.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, stated late Sunday night that Garcés Pérez was in stable condition and held in federal custody pending removal from the United States. However, DHS has not responded to subsequent requests for further information regarding his medical treatment or the circumstances of the shooting.

Accounts of the events leading up to the gunfire indicate that ICE agents encountered Garcés Pérez shortly before 1 p.m. on Sunday. According to Garcés Pérez, an unmarked vehicle pulled alongside him before veering in his direction. When he stopped and spoke with the operative, he reportedly asked to move his vehicle to a nearby parking lot so it would remain accessible if he was arrested. He stated that after being told he could not move the car, he drove further, at which point the ICE vehicle crashed into his sedan and an agent fired three shots. Video footage posted online and shared by witnesses appears to show an officer exiting a black SUV and firing at Garcés Pérez’s nearly stationary blue sedan from behind, striking him once in the back between his shoulder blades.

A witness, Nedavia Bolaños, provided video to reporters showing ICE agents standing near the wounded man before Austin police officers arrived to render first aid. Garcés Pérez has lived in the United States for two years, according to his lawyer, but had previously been ordered removed from the country.

The shooting occurred against the backdrop of heightened immigration enforcement across Austin. Local officials and community members noted a recent surge in unilateral ICE operations in immigrant-heavy neighborhoods and suburbs, diverging from earlier patterns where federal agents primarily relied on Texas Department of Public Safety traffic stops. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson expressed strong anger over the incident, criticizing the involvement of federal law enforcement operating within city limits.

In response to the shooting, more than a hundred protesters gathered near the scene on Sunday, chanting against ICE and waving various national flags. Demonstrators reported being affected by chemical spray or teargas during the protests. Local leaders, including Austin city council member José “Chito” Vela and US Congressman Greg Casar, have raised serious concerns about the enforcement tactics and called for transparency and accountability.

Congressman Casar formally wrote to DHS demanding cooperation with an immediate, independent investigation, the release of relevant federal footage, and accountability for any agent wrongdoing. Meanwhile, federal authorities indicated that DHS is leading the investigation alongside the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), though local officials have advocated for independent state and local involvement due to community distrust of ICE.

To prevent his immediate removal before an investigation can take place, legal representatives for Garcés Pérez filed a writ of habeas corpus and an injunction motion in court on Monday. The legal filings argue that Garcés Pérez qualifies for a specific type of visa designated for victims of crimes.