ICE Agent Shoots Venezuelan Delivery Driver in Austin

Overview

• Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a 28-year-old DoorDash driver, was shot during an ICE enforcement encounter in Austin on Sunday, was treated at a hospital and then placed in ICE custody with a bullet lodged near his spine.
• Images and analysis published by the New York Times show an agent approaching Perez’s vehicle just before three shots were fired, and Austin police say the shooting followed a brief foot pursuit.
• The Department of Homeland Security says Perez had a final deportation order, while his attorneys say he entered under CBP One in 2024, sought asylum and had work authorization, creating a disputed record of his immigration status.
• The Travis County prosecutor’s office asked DHS to suspend deportation proceedings to preserve Perez as a witness, and his lawyers say he was later rehospitalized for new left‑side paralysis and is alleging inadequate medical care in custody.
• Protests in Austin have pushed local leaders and members of Congress to demand independent review and release of body‑camera or vehicle footage, and the case is being probed by DHS with FBI support as it raises fresh scrutiny of ICE enforcement and custody practices.