On Monday, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), a leading Hispanic civil rights group, requested that a Venezuelan illegal immigrant involved in a shooting during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) pursuit not be deported. The group argues that Wilber Rafael Garces Perez is a crucial witness in the investigation concerning officers’ use of force.
The incident occurred during a traffic stop when an ICE agent reportedly shot and injured Garces Perez, who was later hospitalized in serious but stable condition. The shooting resulted in protests in Austin and demands from local officials for an independent investigation.
“Wilber is a victim of the shooting and the most important witness to it. You do not deport the key witness to your own officers’ use of force,” stated Juan Peruano, LULAC’s CEO.
Garces Perez’s attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, provided insight into the event. She claimed that Garces Perez was making a DoorDash delivery when an unmarked black truck sideswiped him. Unaware of the truck being operated by ICE, Garces Perez made a U-turn under a highway, leading to a continued pursuit.
Lincoln-Goldfinch alleges that the truck chased and sideswiped Garces Perez again, resulting in agents shooting him in the back of the neck and forcibly removing him from the vehicle. She also mentioned inadequate medical care, stating the bullet was still lodged hours after the incident, and that Garces Perez received no pain medication. He was then transferred to an ICE processing center without proper bedding.
“There is absolutely zero justification for having shot him in the back of the neck. And this is why we’re calling for a stop to ICE traffic stops. ICE officers are over armed, overpaid, under trained and violent. They don’t know how to safely conduct traffic stops,” Lincoln-Goldfinch expressed.
Garces Perez, according to his attorney, possesses a work permit and was seeking asylum after entering the U.S. in 2024 using the CBP One app, which the Biden administration expanded to help migrants request asylum at ports of entry.
It was noted that Garces Perez received a deportation order following a notice of his immigration hearing sent to an outdated address, despite updating his address with the court. Lincoln-Goldfinch highlighted that this mishap in sending court notices often results in deportation orders in absentia.
Lincoln-Goldfinch continued to challenge the narratives provided by federal agents, stating that ICE officials are often dishonest.
“We are fed up with ICE and DHS telling us lies about what has happened in these incidents where people are being murdered and shot,” she said.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett echoed these sentiments, accusing federal immigration officials of habitual deception.
“ICE has no credibility anymore. It lies. We know it lies. We’ve seen it demonstrated again and again, and we need the kind of independent structure to demand some accountability,” Doggett asserted.
Sources from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that Garces Perez is an illegal immigrant from Venezuela with a final removal order. DHS acknowledged that Garces Perez entered the United States unlawfully under the current administration, and was shot during a law enforcement operation. His condition remains stable, and he is held in federal custody awaiting deportation.
Bonny Chu, serving as a Breaking and Trending News Writer for Fox News Digital, reported on the event.