ICE Shooting in Texas, Broadview Protesters Pepper-Sprayed
ICE Shooting in Texas, Broadview Protesters Pepper-Sprayed
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Key Points
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Perez’s wife said he called her around 12:30 p.m. to say he had been shot, but the call was disconnected. When she went to the hospital, guards repeatedly told her he was not there and pushed her outside; she later learned he had been released and transferred to ICE custody roughly four hours after the shooting.
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Perez’s attorney said that after being transferred to an ICE facility, he was given no bed and slept on the floor while still carrying the bullet in his back and receiving no pain medication, according to the family’s account.
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At a news conference, Perez disputed DHS’s description of the encounter, saying ICE agents did not identify themselves before ramming their vehicle into his and denying that he was running on foot when confronted.
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The Department of Homeland Security said Homeland Security Investigations, with FBI assistance, was leading the investigation into the officer-involved shooting; its statement described Perez as being in federal custody pending removal but did not explain the circumstances of the shooting.
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Beaumont police said they monitored the ICE Out Beaumont protest but do not collaborate with ICE on federal immigration operations, stressing that federal immigration enforcement is the responsibility of federal agencies and that local officers did not participate in the operation.
A 28-year-old Venezuelan DoorDash driver was shot in the back by an ICE officer during an operation in North Austin, Texas, and remains in stable condition with a bullet still lodged in his spine, according to Fox 4 News. Wilber Rafael Garces Perez says he was not warned before agents rammed his vehicle and opened fire. His attorney says he entered the U.S. legally with a work permit and has no criminal record, raising questions about whether the shooting was justified.
The incident sparked protests across Texas and Illinois. In Broadview, Illinois, federal agents pepper-sprayed about 10 protesters outside an ICE facility, sending two to the hospital. Civil rights groups and members of Congress are demanding an independent investigation, body-camera footage, and answers about how the shooting occurred.
What Happened During the Austin Shooting
On Sunday around 12:30 p.m., Perez called his wife from his car, shouting that he had been shot before the line cut off, according to KSAT. He says an unmarked ICE vehicle sideswiped him twice on a North Austin street. When he asked if he could pull over somewhere safer, an agent told him no — then he felt a shot to his back.
Perez was taken to Dell Seton Medical Center with a single wound to his torso. His wife went to the hospital but guards repeatedly told her he was not there and pushed her outside. About four hours later, she learned he had been transferred to ICE custody at a detention facility 130 miles away in Pearsall, Texas, according to Fox 26 Houston.
Perez Released From Hospital Into ICE Custody Without Surgery
After being discharged from the hospital, Perez was taken directly to an ICE detention facility while the bullet remained in his back. His attorney says he was given no bed and slept on the floor without pain medication, according to Click 2 Houston. Perez disputed the Department of Homeland Security's account, saying ICE agents did not identify themselves before ramming his vehicle.
The Department of Homeland Security said Perez was in the country unlawfully and had a final removal order. Federal authorities said Homeland Security Investigations, with FBI assistance, is leading an investigation into the shooting, but did not explain the circumstances of how the officer opened fire.
Pepper-Spray Confrontation at Illinois ICE Facility
In a separate incident, about 10 protesters were pepper-sprayed by federal immigration agents outside the ICE processing facility in Broadview, Illinois. Two protesters were hospitalized, and others are pursuing legal action and seeking an investigation into the use of force.
Federal authorities said demonstrators blocked the driveway and obstructed officers. Protesters disputed that account and accused agents of using unnecessary force. The Department of Homeland Security said officers receive de-escalation and use-of-force training and warned that obstructing federal officers is a crime.
Civil Rights Groups Demand Accountability and Independent Investigation
Perez's attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, says he entered the U.S. legally with a valid work permit and has no criminal history. "Regardless of his status, the use of force was unwarranted," she said, according to Fox 7 Austin. Civil rights organizations are calling for his immediate release to receive proper medical care and demanding body-camera footage from the shooting.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson expressed anger over the incident and clarified that local police were not involved. "This is a terrible incident that we were hoping to avoid in our community," he said. Members of Congress and civil rights advocates are seeking an independent, non-federal investigation and questioning whether the officer violated Texas law.
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