Full Breakdown
ICE Shooting of DoorDash Driver Wilber Rafael Garces Perez in Austin
By Drooid · · How we work
The Incident
On September 20, 2026, an ICE officer shot Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan delivering for DoorDash, in the torso while his blue Toyota Corolla was stopped on a north-Austin overpass. Video shows the officer standing beside the vehicle and firing through the rear passenger window. Perez was taken to Dell Seton Medical Center, released a few hours later, and transferred to the South Texas ICE Processing Center in Pearsall—about 130 miles (209 km) southwest of Austin—where a bullet remains lodged near his spine. He reports severe pain and a lack of pain medication.
Background & Context
Garces Perez entered the United States in 2024 through the CBP One parole program, obtained a work permit, and applied for asylum. A missed court notice sent to an old address resulted in a removal order issued in absentia. The shooting follows two earlier ICE-involved shootings in Texas this year, part of a broader surge in ICE street arrests.
Data & Statistics
- Bullet location: lodged near the spinal cord; doctors declined removal.
- Distance to detention: ~130 miles (209 km) from Austin to Pearsall.
- ICE street arrests: San Antonio area (including Austin) ranked third for field-based arrests in early 2026.
Official Statements & Responses
- Austin Mayor Kirk Watson: called the incident “very angry” but “not surprised,” demanding local police participation and “clear, third-party eyes” in the probe.
- ICE/HSI: placed the involved officer on administrative leave, a standard procedure for pending investigations.
Criticism & Opposition
- Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX): condemned the shooting as “awful” and demanded an independent investigation, release of body-camera footage, and accountability for any illegal use of force.
- Councilmember Mike Siegel: urged that the officer remain in Texas for questioning and that the city obtain full evidence.
- Juan Proaño, CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens: labeled Garces Perez “the most important witness” and warned against deporting him before he can testify.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I am not doing well because of the gunshot wound I received,” — Garces Perez
- “The public deserves more than an agency's account of a shooting or killing. We deserve to see the evidence,” — Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, attorney
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Target status: The New York Times and a Reuters-cited source say Garces Perez was not the target of a federal operation; CBS and local law-enforcement sources suggest ICE was conducting a license-plate check that led to the stop.
- Pursuit description: NBC reports a “short chase” after a sideswipe, while Austin Police Chief Davis initially described a “small foot pursuit.”
- Body-camera usage: DHS has not confirmed whether the officer wore a body camera, and no footage has been released.
What’s Next
- Investigation: HSI, assisted by the FBI, will continue the federal inquiry; Austin police, the Texas Rangers, and the Travis County District Attorney’s Office have requested participation and access to evidence.
- Legal actions: Attorney Kristin Etter has filed a federal court request to block removal and to allow Garces Perez to apply for a U-visa as a crime-witness.
The shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez highlights heightened tensions over ICE’s interior enforcement and raises unanswered questions about accountability, medical care, and the rights of individuals caught in federal immigration operations.