Full Breakdown
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Officer Shoots DoorDash Driver in Austin, Prompting Legal Block and Calls for Investigation
By Drooid · · How we work
The Shooting and Immediate Aftermath
On September 20 a 28-year-old Venezuelan delivery driver, Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, was shot in the torso while making a DoorDash delivery in north Austin. An ICE officer in an unmarked truck sideswiped his vehicle twice, then fired, leaving a bullet lodged near the driver’s spine. Perez was taken to Dell Seton Medical Center, described as “serious but stable,” and released later that day back into ICE custody with the bullet still inside. He was moved to the South Texas ICE Processing Center in Pearsall, where he was placed in an isolated room with a regular-size bed.
Background and Context
The incident occurred amid a nationwide surge in ICE enforcement that began during the Trump administration’s second term, with monthly arrests exceeding 50,000 in July and August. Earlier this year, an ICE officer fatally shot a man in Houston, intensifying scrutiny of the agency’s use-of-force practices. Advocacy groups and local officials have called for independent investigations into ICE shootings.
Official Statements and Responses
Department of Homeland Security announced that Homeland Security Investigations, with FBI assistance, would lead an investigation. Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson Sheridan Nolen noted that DPS troopers arrived after the shooting to provide medical assistance and that the agency is cooperating with federal partners.
On-the-Ground Reports
Local police released dash-cam footage showing ICE officers confronting Perez’s car, the sound of multiple gunshots, and a view of the driver’s shirt cut to reveal a single wound in his back. A bystander video captured the ICE truck sideswiping Perez’s vehicle, followed by the officer exiting the SUV and approaching the sedan. Protesters gathered outside the Texas Capitol with signs demanding ICE’s departure from Austin; candles, flowers, and a “Justice for Wilber” sign were placed near the shooting site.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
- Legal status: DHS characterizes Perez as an “illegal alien” with an expired work permit, while his attorney argues he entered legally through the CBP One program, obtained asylum, and held a valid work permit.
- Cause of the shooting: The attorney says Perez was sideswiped and shot after a U-turn; DHS officials claim he was evading a targeted stop.
- Body-camera usage: Multiple sources confirm the shooting officer was not wearing his assigned body camera, though another ICE officer captured part of the encounter on a separate camera; the footage does not show the moment of fire.
- Medical care: Perez’s lawyer alleges inadequate pain medication and restrictive detention conditions, whereas DHS asserts he received “around-the-clock” care and slept on a bed after hospital release.
What’s Next
A federal hearing is scheduled for September 30, where Perez must appear in person, halting his removal pending the outcome. DHS, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI continue their internal probe, while local authorities, including the Austin Police Department and Texas Rangers, are gathering additional video and witness statements. Advocacy groups remain pressuring for an independent review and for policy changes regarding ICE’s use of force and body-camera protocols.
