ICE Shooting Charges
Venezuelan Man Shot by ICE Agent in Austin Faces Federal Assault Charges
Anonymous
Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, a Venezuelan man shot by an ICE agent during a traffic stop and pursuit in Austin, has been charged with assaulting, resisting, interfering with and impeding a federal officer. Prosecutors allege he drove away from officers and struck one with his side-view mirror; Garcés Pérez has given a different account of how the encounter unfolded, and reports differ on what body-camera footage captured. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted and remains in Texas detention. His federal case has delayed an immigration hearing, while his attorney says abrupt custody changes left his legal team struggling to locate him.
Key Points
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According to the complaint, ICE agents identified Garcés Pérez after checking his license plate and confirming that an immigration judge had issued a final order of removal. He had provided his driver’s license, and agents described the initial interaction as “pleasant and not aggressive.”
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The complaint says Garcés Pérez was read his Miranda rights in Spanish, said he understood them and agreed to speak with investigators without an attorney present.
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A statement from his lawyer’s office said a bullet remained lodged in Garcés Pérez’s body and accused the Department of Homeland Security and the government of failing to provide urgently needed medical care.
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The shooting prompted rallies, protests and high-school walkouts in Austin; a local Democratic Socialists of America group also planned a solidarity vigil.
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