Full Breakdown
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez Sparks Investigation and Calls for Accountability
By Drooid · · How we work
The Shooting and Immediate Aftermath
On September 20, 2026, ICE agents stopped a blue Toyota Corolla driven by 28-year-old Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a Venezuelan national delivering for DoorDash in north-Austin. An ICE officer, not wearing a body-camera, fired into the rear-passenger window, striking Perez. He was taken to Dell Seton Medical Center, where doctors found a bullet near his spine and a fractured clavicle. He was later transferred to the South Texas ICE Processing Center in Pearsall, where he remains in isolation on a non-adjustable bed and reports ongoing pain and limited mobility in his left arm.
Background & Context
The shooting occurred amid a rise in interior ICE arrests in the San Antonio jurisdiction, which includes Austin. Since 2022, field arrests have increased sharply, and ICE has expanded vehicle-stop operations that check license-plate data for deportation orders. Earlier in the year, two fatal ICE shootings in Texas prompted DHS to pledge body-cameras for all field officers; as of July 12, only half of the offices had received them.
Timeline
- September 20, 2026 – Officer shoots Perez; he is hospitalized, then transferred to ICE custody.
- September 20, 2026 – Attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch reports Perez was placed on a flat floor-bed and denied pain medication.
- September 22, 2026 – CBS News confirms the shooting officer was not wearing a body-camera.
- September 22, 2026 – DHS issues a statement disputing claims that ICE refused medical care or removed the bullet.
- Later September – A federal judge orders Perez to appear at a hearing, temporarily blocking his deportation.
Data & Statistics
The July 7 fatal shooting in Houston highlighted the lack of body-camera footage and intensified scrutiny of ICE’s equipment policies.
Official Statements & Responses
Homeland Security Investigations, with FBI assistance, is leading the federal investigation.
Criticism & Opposition
Democratic members of Congress, including Rep. Joaquin Castro and Rep. Greg Casar, have demanded immediate medical care for Perez and called for his release pending investigation. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson expressed anger at the shooting and urged transparency. Lincoln-Goldfinch has accused ICE of forcibly revoking Perez’s communication tablet and moving him to an isolated cell.
On-the-Ground Reports
Protests erupted at the intersection of Research Boulevard and Anderson Square within hours of the shooting, drawing hundreds of demonstrators and resulting in three arrests. Residents reported heightened fear and reduced foot traffic for local businesses.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Foot chase vs. no chase: ICE officials described a “dangerous attempt to evade arrest” and a brief foot pursuit, while Lincoln-Goldfinch and dash-cam footage suggest no chase occurred.
- Body-camera usage: Federal officials confirm the shooting officer lacked a body-camera; an accompanying officer’s camera captured only peripheral footage, omitting the moment of fire.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The irony of it all is, with these ICE incidents, it's not just coincidental that the Democrats are against ICE performing their function of enforcing immigration laws…” — Jonathan Fahey, acting ICE director
- “You need to answer why your agents are not turning their body cams on,” — Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, his lawyer
- “I am very angry and extremely disappointed that a person was shot on the streets of Austin by ICE,” — Kirk Watson, Austin mayor
- “Mr. Garces Perez is not receiving the care he needs in detention,” — Rep. Greg Casar
- “For now, we have secured a temporary block on his deportation while his case moves forward,” — Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, his lawyer