Civil Rights Group Seeks to Halt Deportation of Venezuelan Immigrant Shot by ICE

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), a prominent Hispanic civil rights organization, is advocating against the deportation of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a Venezuelan immigrant who was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent during a pursuit in Austin, Texas. LULAC stated that Garces Perez is a vital witness to the incident and his deportation would hinder the investigation into the use of force by the ICE agents.

"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," said LULAC CEO Juan Peruano in a statement. The shooting occurred during a traffic stop on Sunday, resulting in Garces Perez sustaining a gunshot wound to the back of the neck. He was hospitalized and is in serious but stable condition. The incident has since prompted protests in Austin and calls for an independent review of the officers' actions.

According to Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, the attorney representing Garces Perez and his wife, the encounter began when an unmarked black truck, identified as an ICE vehicle, sideswiped Garces Perez while he was delivering food for DoorDash. She claims her client did not initially recognize the vehicle as law enforcement and made a U-turn, after which the agents continued the pursuit, sideswiped him again, and subsequently shot him.

Lincoln-Goldfinch also raised concerns about the medical treatment Garces Perez received, stating the bullet remained lodged in his body for hours and that he was transferred to an ICE processing center without adequate care. "There is absolutely zero justification for having shot him in the back of the neck," Lincoln-Goldfinch said, criticizing ICE officers as "over armed, overpaid, under trained and violent."

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sources confirmed that Garces Perez is an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela with an existing order for removal. They stated he entered the U.S. under the current administration and was shot during a law enforcement operation. DHS reported that Garces Perez is in stable condition and in federal custody pending his removal.

However, this account has been challenged by some officials. U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett echoed the attorney's skepticism regarding federal immigration agencies' statements. "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 stated, aligning with calls for an independent investigation and the release of body camera footage related to the shooting.