Wilber Rafael Garces-Perez, a Venezuelan national, has been charged with assault after a vehicle pursuit in Texas resulted in him being shot by an ICE agent. Garces-Perez was struck by a bullet in his upper back during the incident, where his lawyers state the projectile remains lodged, posing a significant danger to his health.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has stated that Garces-Perez has received substantial medical care. A judge has temporarily blocked his deportation.
According to court filings, the incident began when Garces-Perez allegedly attempted to strike an officer with his car's side-view mirror while driving away. This led to a high-speed chase through both commercial and residential areas. The pursuit concluded when a federal agent's SUV collided with Garces-Perez's vehicle, causing it to spin. After his car came to a stop, Garces-Perez alleges that an agent fired a pistol into the rear window of his car.
The justice department claims that the officer fired his weapon after Garces-Perez allegedly attempted to hit the officer with his car. Images of the traffic stop taken from an officer's body camera were included in the affidavit.
Garces-Perez entered the United States in 2024 through CBP One, a program for asylum seekers that was initially introduced under President Joe Biden and later discontinued by President Donald Trump.