A Venezuelan national employed as a DoorDash driver was shot by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during a vehicle stop in Texas and subsequently detained. Following the incident, U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia issued a temporary restraining order preventing the man’s deportation, with a hearing scheduled for later in the week. The individual, identified as Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, remains in detention with a bullet lodged in his back.
According to Garces Perez’s attorney, the incident occurred when an unmarked ICE vehicle sideswiped his car while he was making a delivery. The lawyer stated that Garces Perez, unaware the truck belonged to immigration authorities, executed a U-turn before his vehicle was struck again and agents opened fire. Medical records show the gunshot fractured his clavicle, and Garces Perez has experienced significant swelling and pain, though the full extent of any nerve damage remains undetermined.
The Department of Homeland Security disputed characterizations of the incident and medical treatment, issuing statements defending the actions of ICE and asserting that Garces Perez had received appropriate care. DHS noted that his work authorization had expired, designating him as subject to removal proceedings. The agency dismissed what it characterized as false narratives circulated by sanctuary cities and media outlets regarding the shooting.
Local officials and lawmakers have called for an independent investigation into the shooting. Hundreds of protesters gathered at the scene following the incident, demanding ICE’s withdrawal from the area. Garces Perez’s legal representative has initiated federal litigation to challenge his deportation and ensure continued access to medical care during the proceeding.
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