The Dispute Index

Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?

An ICE officer shot Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a Venezuelan DoorDash driver, in Austin on September 20. He says he was trying to pull over; prosecutors, who charged him with assaulting an officer, say he drove off. The dispute is whether the shooting was justified.

BackgroundWhen can federal immigration agents use deadly force?

Open source (opens in a new tab)
Reporters and advocates gather at the Austin press conference where Wilber Rafael Garces Perez spoke by phone from ICE detention.
Advocates and reporters at the September 21, 2026, press conference where Wilber Rafael Garces Perez spoke by phone after being shot and detained by ICE.

Case period:

Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated

Wilber Rafael Garces PerezU.S. Department of Homeland SecurityU.S. Immigration and Customs EnforcementACLU of Texas
Immigration PolicyLaw EnforcementGovernment TransparencyU.S. Politics

Overview

On September 20, 2026, an ICE officer shot and wounded Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan national working as a DoorDash driver, during an immigration enforcement operation in North Austin, Texas. He was taken to Dell Seton Medical Center in serious but stable condition and later transferred into ICE custody. Garces Perez says an unmarked SUV struck his vehicle before he realized the people pursuing him were immigration officers, that he asked an agent if he could stop somewhere safer than under a freeway overpass, and that he was shot after the agent refused. On September 29, federal prosecutors charged him with assaulting and resisting a federal officer. In a sworn affidavit, they say he refused commands to get out of his car and drove off, hitting an officer with his side mirror, and that after a brief chase one officer says Garces Perez tried to hit him with the car, and the officer fired. DHS has confirmed the shooting and said Garces Perez was subject to a final removal order. The dispute is whether the use of force against him was justified.

Background: When can federal immigration agents use deadly force?
Read the full background

This case classifies responses to whether the ICE officer's use of deadly force against Garces Perez during the September 20 stop was justified. It is a different question from, and should not be conflated with, whether DHS or an independent body should lead the investigation into the shooting; that separate procedural dispute is tracked on its own case, 'Should DHS lead the investigation of the ICE shooting of a delivery driver in Austin?'

Garces Perez's account, reported in detail by the Texas Tribune, is that an unmarked SUV sideswiped his car twice before he understood the pursuing vehicle belonged to ICE, that he did a U-turn under a freeway overpass, asked an agent if he could stop somewhere safer, was refused, and was then shot in the back. His attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, says he was pulling over to a safer place, not fleeing.

The criminal complaint filed September 29 gives a different sequence. According to the Texas Tribune's reading of the sworn affidavit, ICE officers pulled him over because of a final removal order, he asked to park elsewhere, then disregarded commands to get out and drove away, hitting an officer with his side mirror. After a brief vehicle chase, one officer says Garces Perez tried to strike him with the car, and the officer, standing outside it, fired into the car. The Tribune reports that the officers and Garces Perez give conflicting accounts of when emergency lights were activated and whether the officers struck his vehicle. The documents say the officer who fired was not wearing a body camera.

Austin police released dash-camera video on September 23 showing two ICE agents speaking with Garces Perez at his car window 10 to 15 minutes before the shooting, about 300 feet away. Police Chief Lisa Davis said a vehicle pursuit followed. The video released publicly shows neither the pursuit nor the shooting.

Garces Perez faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Rochelle Garza of the Texas Civil Rights Project, part of his legal team, said the timing of the charge was intended to thwart his release, and a habeas hearing in San Antonio was canceled after it. The U.S. Attorney's Office declined to comment beyond its press release. His attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, says he entered the United States lawfully through the CBP One process in 2024, applied for asylum, and held a work permit, and that he was ordered removed only after a hearing notice was sent to an old address; DHS says he was subject to a final removal order. Those competing accounts concern his immigration history and do not by themselves resolve whether the shooting was justified.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas is the one source we have recorded so far that defends or excuses the shooting. In its September 29 release it gives the criminal complaint's account of why the officer fired, and ICE referred questions about the charges to the Justice Department.

People in this case

Timeline

17 timeline entries on this page. Dates: September 20, 2026 to October 7, 2026

  1. September 2026

    1. ICE officer shoots and wounds Garces Perez in North Austin

      Incident

      An ICE officer shot and wounded Wilber Rafael Garces Perez during an immigration enforcement operation in North Austin. He was taken to Dell Seton Medical Center in serious but stable condition. Austin police were not participating in the immigration operation.

      [01]Texas Tribune: Garces Perez says he tried to pull over before ICE shot him

      Source excerpt

      He asked officers if he could stop somewhere safer than in traffic under the freeway; he said an agent refused, and then he felt one shot to his back.

      The Texas Tribune's detailed account of Garces Perez's version of events: an unmarked SUV sideswiped him twice before he realized it was ICE; he did a U-turn under a freeway; he asked to stop somewhere safer than under the freeway and was refused; he was then shot. It also reports his immigration history (CBP One entry in 2024, asylum application, work permit, a missed hearing after notice went to an old address) and that hospital staff would not remove the bullet because it was too close to his spine.

      Texas Tribune: Garces Perez says he tried to pull over before ICE shot himParagraphs describing Garces Perez's account of the pursuit and shooting, his attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch's remarks, his immigration history, and his medical condition.

    2. Garces Perez describes the pursuit and shooting from ICE custody

      Reaction

      Speaking by phone at a news conference, Garces Perez said an unmarked SUV struck his vehicle twice before he realized his pursuers were ICE officers, that he asked an agent if he could stop somewhere safer than under a freeway overpass, and that he was shot after the agent refused. He said a bullet remains near his spine and that he has not received the medical attention he needs.

      [01]Texas Tribune: Garces Perez says he tried to pull over before ICE shot him

      Source excerpt

      He asked officers if he could stop somewhere safer than in traffic under the freeway; he said an agent refused, and then he felt one shot to his back.

      The Texas Tribune's detailed account of Garces Perez's version of events: an unmarked SUV sideswiped him twice before he realized it was ICE; he did a U-turn under a freeway; he asked to stop somewhere safer than under the freeway and was refused; he was then shot. It also reports his immigration history (CBP One entry in 2024, asylum application, work permit, a missed hearing after notice went to an old address) and that hospital staff would not remove the bullet because it was too close to his spine.

      Texas Tribune: Garces Perez says he tried to pull over before ICE shot himParagraphs describing Garces Perez's account of the pursuit and shooting, his attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch's remarks, his immigration history, and his medical condition.
      [02]NBC News: Garces Perez says he's in pain and still has the bullet in his back

      Source excerpt

      I am demanding, and Congress is making very clear to the head of ICE and to Secretary Mullin, that Wilber Garces needs to be released to medical care and should not be in Pearsall. He needs to be released right now.

      NBC News reports Garces Perez's account (shot near the clavicle, has not received needed medical attention), Rep. Greg Casar's demand that he be released from the Pearsall detention facility for medical care, and a senior administration official's statement that Garces Perez had no criminal history beyond being in the country illegally.

      NBC News: Garces Perez says he's in pain and still has the bullet in his backParagraphs quoting Rep. Greg Casar's demand for Garces Perez's release to medical care and a senior administration official's comment on his criminal history.

    3. Rep. Joaquin Castro says Garcés Pérez is being taken to a hospital

      Reaction

      In a public Instagram reel, Rep. Joaquin Castro said Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez was being taken to a hospital from the South Texas ICE Processing Center, was in severe pain, still had a bullet in his left side, and could not move the left side of his body. The post attributes those details to Pérez and is not an independent medical-provider or DHS confirmation.

      [03]Joaquin Castro

      Source excerpt

      He’s being taken to the hospital. He is in tremendous pain.

      In a verified public Instagram reel, Rep. Joaquin Castro said Garcés Pérez was being taken to a hospital from the South Texas ICE Processing Center, had a bullet still inside his left side, and could not move the left side of his body. The post is Castro’s account of Pérez’s reported condition; it is not an independent medical-provider or DHS confirmation.

      Rep. Joaquin Castro Instagram update on Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez’s medical condition · Joaquin CastroVerified @joaquincastrotx reel caption, beginning “Update on the condition of Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez”

    4. ACLU of Texas calls the shooting unjustified and demands an independent investigation

      Reaction

      ACLU of Texas published a statement saying the shooting "should never have happened," calling for a full, transparent and independent investigation, and demanding Garces Perez's release from immigration detention so he can receive adequate medical care.

      [04]ACLU of Texas

      Source excerpt

      This should never have happened in the first place. Wilber and his loved ones deserve answers and accountability.

      ACLU of Texas's official press-release statement, published September 21, 2026, calling the shooting unjustified, demanding a full, transparent and independent investigation, and calling for Garces Perez's release from immigration detention so he can receive adequate medical care.

      ACLU of Texas statement on the ICE shooting of Wilber Rafael Garcés Perez · ACLU of TexasFull text of the organizational statement.

    5. Judge schedules an in-person hearing on Garcés Pérez’s habeas petition

      Houston Public Media, CBS News, and BBC News reported that Judge Orlando Garcia ordered Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez to attend an in-person September 30 hearing on his habeas petition challenging ICE custody. The reports say the order prevents removal before the hearing. It does not resolve what preceded the shooting or whether the use of force was justified.

      [05]Houston Public Media reporting on Garcés Pérez’s federal hearing after the Austin ICE shooting

      Source excerpt

      A judge has set a hearing for Sept. 30 in San Antonio and ordered that Wilber must be present.

      Houston Public Media reported that a judge set a September 30 hearing in San Antonio on Garcés Pérez’s federal case and ordered his presence. The report is used as attributed reporting of a procedural development; no underlying court order was available in this review.

      Houston Public Media reporting on Garcés Pérez’s federal hearing after the Austin ICE shootingPassage stating that a judge set a September 30 San Antonio hearing and ordered Garcés Pérez to be present.
      [06]ICE officer who shot Austin delivery driver was not wearing a body camera, sources say

      Source excerpt

      U.S. District Court Judge Orlando Garcia ordered Garces Perez to attend an in-person hearing on the habeas claim next Wednesday, Sept. 30.

      CBS News reported that Judge Orlando Garcia ordered Garcés Pérez to attend an in-person hearing on his habeas petition on September 30 and described the order as preventing deportation until then. The report is evidence of the reported procedural development, not a substitute for the court order.

      ICE officer who shot Austin delivery driver was not wearing a body camera, sources sayParagraphs describing the September 30 in-person habeas hearing and the APD video releases.
      [07]US judge blocks deportation of DoorDash driver shot by ICE

      Source excerpt

      Since the judge ordered that her client appear in person on 30 September, he cannot be deported before then, she said.

      BBC News reported that Judge Orlando Garcia scheduled an in-person hearing for Garcés Pérez and quoted his lawyer’s account that the order temporarily blocked deportation. The article independently corroborates the reported hearing; it does not replace the court order.

      US judge blocks deportation of DoorDash driver shot by ICEOpening paragraphs and passage explaining the September 30 in-person hearing and temporary block.

    6. Austin Police release two videos from the September 20 ICE incident

      Source release

      Austin Police posted a 17-second off-duty dashcam video and a 2-minute, 9-second body-worn-camera video on September 22, each titled as footage from the September 20 ICE incident. The releases document what APD made public; they do not by themselves resolve the circumstances or justification of the shooting.

      [08]Off-Duty Dashcam Video: Sept. 20, 2026 ICE Incident

      Source excerpt

      Off-Duty Dashcam Video - Sept. 20, 2026 ICE Incident

      Austin Police publicly uploaded this 17-second video on September 22 under a title identifying it as off-duty dashcam footage from the September 20 ICE incident. The upload documents APD's evidence release; by itself it does not explain or resolve the shooting.

      Off-Duty Dashcam Video: Sept. 20, 2026 ICE IncidentAustin Police YouTube upload; 17-second video, uploaded September 22.
      [09]Body-worn Camera Video: Sept. 20, 2026 ICE Incident

      Source excerpt

      We've got It looks like one gunshot wound so far.

      Austin Police publicly uploaded this 2-minute, 9-second body-worn-camera video on September 22 under a title identifying it as footage from the September 20 ICE incident. The visible opening records the immediate response; the video does not by itself resolve the circumstances or justification of the shooting.

      Body-worn Camera Video: Sept. 20, 2026 ICE IncidentAustin Police YouTube upload; 2:09 video, uploaded September 22; opening transcript.

    7. Casar leads a congressional demand for care and evidence after the Austin shooting

      Reaction

      Greg Casar led a September 22 congressional letter demanding medical care for Wilber Rafael Garces Perez and preservation of evidence from the shooting. The letter said ICE had provided no justification and asked officials to respond by September 28.

      [10]Casar and congressional cosigners seek medical care for Garces Perez

      The lawmakers' demand for care and evidence preservation.

      Casar and congressional cosigners seek medical care for Garces PerezSeptember 22 congressional letter, page 2 paragraph beginning "ICE has provided no justification"; Greg Casar signature on page 3.

    8. Attorney says Garces Perez has lost movement on his left side

      Reaction

      CNN reported that attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch told Erin Burnett that Wilber Rafael Garces Perez had lost movement on the entire left side of his body after the shooting. CNN also attributed to Lincoln-Goldfinch her account that he had been transferred to detention with a bullet lodged in his back. These are the attorney’s reported statements, not independently confirmed medical findings in this source.

      [11]CNN video reports attorney’s new account of Garces Perez’s condition

      Source excerpt

      “He has lost movement on the entire left side of his body.”

      CNN attributes the medical and transfer details in this short video to Garces Perez’s attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch. The report does not include a hospital statement or an official DHS account, so the details are recorded as her account rather than independently confirmed medical findings.

      CNN video reports attorney’s new account of Garces Perez’s conditionLead and 0:00; CNN says attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch told Erin Burnett that Garces Perez had lost movement on his entire left side

    9. DHS describes Garces Perez as the subject of a "targeted vehicle stop"

      Claim

      In an official X post, DHS said that Garces Perez was the subject of a "targeted vehicle stop." The post records the department's characterization of the stop and his conduct. It does not identify the immediate conduct that prompted the officer to fire or independently establish that characterization.

      [12]U.S. Department of Homeland Security

      Source excerpt

      This illegal alien was the subject of a targeted vehicle stop.

      An official DHS social-media statement about the Austin shooting. It records the department’s characterization of the stop and Garcés Pérez’s conduct; it does not independently establish those assertions.

      DHS (@DHSgov) X post in Austin ICE shooting thread, September 22, 2026 · U.S. Department of Homeland SecuritySeventh post in the DHSgov Austin ICE-shooting thread

    10. Casar requests medical release after visiting Garces Perez in detention

      Reaction

      Rep. Greg Casar's office said he visited Wilber Rafael Garces Perez in ICE custody and requested his release for medical care. The release attributes the account of his injuries, treatment, and detention conditions to Casar and Garces Perez; it does not independently resolve what justified the shooting.

      [13]Greg Casar

      Official release from Representative Greg Casar's office. It reports on his detention visit with Wilber Rafael Garces Perez and states Casar's requests for medical release, body- and dash-camera footage, and a transparent investigation. Medical and detention-condition assertions are attributed to Casar and Garces Perez; the release is not an independent investigation.

      Casar reports on Garces Perez after a detention visit and calls for medical release · Greg CasarSeptember 23, 2026 dateline; opening visit description; Casar quotation; paragraphs calling for an investigation, footage release, and DHS briefing.

    11. Federal judge denies bond and allows the Garces Perez charge to proceed

      Magistrate Judge Dustin M. Howell denied bond after finding Garces Perez a flight risk and found probable cause for the federal officer-assault charge to proceed. Prosecutors presented body-camera footage from the initial stop and pursuit. Defense attorney Shane McMahon disputed whether the footage showed the car's mirror contacting an officer. The charge remains an allegation.

      [14]Man shot by ICE in Austin will stay in custody, but will not return to detention center

      KUT reports from the September 30 detention hearing before Magistrate Judge Dustin M. Howell. It describes the flight-risk ruling, presentation of body-camera footage and opposing arguments about alleged contact with an officer. Updated October 1. The criminal charge remains an allegation.

      Man shot by ICE in Austin will stay in custody, but will not return to detention centerOpening hearing account; section 'Unreleased body-cam footage shown in court', especially Bazan's testimony and the prosecution and defense accounts of the side mirror.
      [15]Man shot by ICE officer to remain in custody, judge says criminal prosecution can continue

      CBS Austin separately reports the September 30 federal detention hearing. It says the judge denied bond and found probable cause for the charge to proceed; it also reports the defense's dispute over whether footage showed contact with an officer. A probable-cause finding does not establish guilt.

      Man shot by ICE officer to remain in custody, judge says criminal prosecution can continueSeptember 30 article, first eight substantive paragraphs describing Howell's ruling, Bazan's testimony, the body-camera presentation and McMahon's objection.

  2. October 2026

    1. Legal team says Garces Perez undergoes surgery to remove the bullet

      Garces Perez's legal team and Rep. Joaquin Castro said he underwent surgery on October 1 to remove the bullet from his back and was recovering. Attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch said he subsequently spoke with his wife. At an October 4 community forum, she said he was still recovering and remained in a county jail facility.

      [16]Austin man has surgery 11 days after being shot by ICE agent

      CBS Austin republishes The Texas Tribune's report. The article attributes the October 1 surgery and recovery to Rep. Joaquin Castro and Garces Perez's legal team, including Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch. It is the same underlying Tribune report, not independent corroboration of other republications.

      Austin man has surgery 11 days after being shot by ICE agentFirst four substantive paragraphs: Thursday surgery, bullet removal, recovery and Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch's account of a conversation with Garces Perez's wife.
      [17]Community gathers in support of Wilber Garces Perez as he recovers, faces charges

      CBS Austin covers an October 4 gathering of immigrant advocates, faith leaders and community members. Attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch says Garces Perez is recovering from Thursday surgery, remains in a county jail facility and appreciates community support. The account supplies her update, not medical records or a resolution of the charge.

      Community gathers in support of Wilber Garces Perez as he recovers, faces chargesOctober 4 article: opening account of the same-day forum and closing quotation from Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch about support and accountability.

    2. Garces Perez files notice to dismiss his habeas petition

      The federal court docket records an October 1 notice of voluntary dismissal filed by Wilber Rafael Garces Perez in his habeas case, Garces Perez v. Thompson. It lists the civil case as terminated that day. This docket entry does not dismiss the separate criminal charge or decide whether the shooting was justified.

      [18]Garces Perez v. Thompson: October 1 voluntary-dismissal notice

      The reproduced court docket lists a notice of voluntary dismissal by Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, filed by Kristin Etter. The entry concerns his civil habeas petition. It does not record a dismissal of his separate criminal charge or a ruling on whether the shooting was justified. The full notice is not publicly available at this link.

      Garces Perez v. Thompson: October 1 voluntary-dismissal noticeWestern District of Texas case 5:26-cv-06038, docket entry 13, filed and entered October 1, 2026; docket header Date Terminated October 1, 2026.

    3. Representatives announce body-camera oversight letter citing Garces Perez shooting

      Source release

      Chellie Pingree, Sylvia Garcia and Greg Casar announced a joint letter demanding DHS and ICE answers on body-camera deployment, training and missing footage. It cites the Garces Perez shooting and requests written answers by October 14. The linked letter is dated September 29; October 1 is the announcement date.

      [19]Chellie Pingree

      Pingree's office announces a joint oversight letter concerning the shootings of Johan Sebastian Duran Guerrero, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Wilber Rafael Garces Perez. The linked letter is dated September 29; the release is dated October 1 and supplies no clock time. The representatives' allegations and assessments are attributed statements.

      Pingree, Garcia and Casar demand body-camera accountability after three ICE shootings · Chellie PingreeOctober 1, 2026 release; quoted statements by Pingree, Garcia and Casar; final paragraph setting October 14 response deadline.
      [20]Chellie Pingree

      The letter requests camera, training and footage information from DHS and ICE. It is dated September 29, 2026 and was linked in an October 1 release. The document does not establish its transmission time or resolve the disputed shootings.

      Garcia, Casar and Pingree letter requesting answers on ICE body cameras · Chellie PingreeThree-page letter; page 1 date and discussion of the three shootings; page 2 questions 1-7 and October 14 deadline; page 3 signatures.

    4. Community forum supports Garces Perez and calls for accountability

      Reaction

      Immigrant advocates, faith leaders and community members gathered on October 4 in support of Garces Perez. Attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch discussed his recovery and said participants were considering how to support him and hold elected officials and ICE accountable. CBS Austin reported the gathering and her comments.

      [17]Community gathers in support of Wilber Garces Perez as he recovers, faces charges

      CBS Austin covers an October 4 gathering of immigrant advocates, faith leaders and community members. Attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch says Garces Perez is recovering from Thursday surgery, remains in a county jail facility and appreciates community support. The account supplies her update, not medical records or a resolution of the charge.

      Community gathers in support of Wilber Garces Perez as he recovers, faces chargesOctober 4 article: opening account of the same-day forum and closing quotation from Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch about support and accountability.

    5. Protesters rally outside Travis County Courthouse after the Garces Perez shooting

      Reaction

      Protesters gathered outside the Travis County Courthouse on Monday morning after the shooting of Wilber Garces Perez. CBS Austin reported that participants accused state authorities of targeting people who demonstrated after the shooting. Organizers read India Brookhouser's account of her arrest and detention, in which she questioned the speed of action against protesters compared with the shooting investigation.

      [21]Protesters rally in Austin after ICE shooting, arrests tied to demonstrations

      CBS Austin reports from a Monday morning rally outside the Travis County Courthouse after the shooting of Wilber Garces Perez. Participants accuse state authorities of targeting protesters; their accounts of arrests and detention are attributed to them.

      Protesters rally in Austin after ICE shooting, arrests tied to demonstrationsOctober 5, 2026, 11:07 AM, updated 11:19 AM; courthouse photograph, lead and paragraphs on Emilia Figueroa and India Brookhouser

    6. Austin police say requested federal shooting evidence has not arrived

      Austin police told the American-Statesman that DHS had not supplied requested reports, audio, video and other evidence for the local investigation of the Garces Perez shooting. The statement, supplied October 7 and reported October 8, says APD continued gathering information independently. DHS did not answer the outlet's request for comment. The report establishes the department's account of the missing material, rather than a finding about the shooting's legality.

      [22]Austin American-Statesman

      The American-Statesman quotes a direct APD statement that requested federal material had not arrived. The statement concerns access to evidence and the ongoing local investigation; it does not resolve the justification for the shooting.

      Austin police say DHS has not shared evidence in ICE shooting investigation · Austin American-StatesmanAPD statement supplied Wednesday, October 7; paragraphs listing requested reports and recordings and describing continued independent investigation.

Claims

Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.

What's disputed

Disputed claim

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

DHS said Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez was the subject of a targeted vehicle stop and made a dangerous attempt to evade arrest.

Sources (1)

Response record

Responses

Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.

21 responses. First 6 shown initially. Newest first.

  1. Kate Lincoln-GoldfinchAttorney for Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, speaking after a community forum in Austin

    Before this statement

    CBS Austin reported on October 4 that Lincoln-Goldfinch spoke that day at a community forum. Its October 5 report quoted her criticism of ICE violence and medical care after that forum.

    "This case really highlights the violence that we see with ICE on the streets and the bad medical care that people get in immigration detention."
    Condemned

    Case context: Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?

    Full statement and sources

    Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch said the case shows violence by ICE on the streets and poor medical care in immigration detention. CBS Austin quoted her after an October 4 community forum supporting Garces Perez.

    After the statement

    The attorney described community groups discussing support for Garces Perez and accountability for elected officials. Her comments are her assessment of the shooting and detention treatment, not a finding by the court.

    Protesters rally in Austin after ICE shooting, arrests tied to demonstrationsOctober 5, 2026, 11:07 AM, updated 11:19 AM; courthouse photograph, lead and paragraphs on Emilia Figueroa and India Brookhouser
    Community gathers in support of Wilber Garces Perez as he recovers, faces chargesOctober 4 article: opening account of the same-day forum and closing quotation from Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch about support and accountability.

    Why this label?

    Lincoln-Goldfinch describes the shooting and detention treatment as examples of violence and poor care. Her statement criticizes the conduct rather than only requesting an investigation.

    This label describes the statement's response within the context above.

    Read statementLink to this statement
  2. Kate Lincoln-GoldfinchAttorney for Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, writing on her personal Instagram account

    Before this statement

    Lincoln-Goldfinch posted after Garces Perez underwent surgery to remove the bullet. She described his time in detention with the bullet and the health risks she said he faced.

    "His case demonstrates the dangers of giving an agency enormous resources and enforcement power without adequate oversight and accountability."
    Condemned

    Case context: Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?

    Full statement and sources

    Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch criticized ICE's enforcement power and oversight in an October 1 Instagram post about Garces Perez's surgery. She welcomed his medical care while saying that it did not resolve what happened or the remaining questions.

    After the statement

    She said she was grateful he received medical care but that it did not erase what happened or the questions that remained.

    Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch says Garces Perez's care does not resolve accountability questions · Kate Lincoln-GoldfinchCaption of attorneygoldfinch's October 1 Instagram reel, opening sentence and closing paragraph; post timestamp October 2, 01:54:21 UTC.

    Why this label?

    Lincoln-Goldfinch calls the treatment of Garces Perez an example of the dangers of enforcement power without adequate oversight. Her criticism goes beyond a request for information.

    This label describes the statement's response within the context above.

    Read statementLink to this statement
  3. Greg CasarU.S. representative for Texas's 35th congressional district, quoted in a joint congressional release

    Before this statement

    The release identifies three ICE shootings and says promised body cameras did not record the uses of force. Casar addresses the Austin shooting, which the release places in the members' districts.

    "Secretary Mullin keeps making promises while his agents keep shooting people. Secretary Mullin must release every second of footage from that scene, so we can know the truth."
    Condemned

    Case context: Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?

    Full statement and sources

    Casar criticized Mullin's unfulfilled body-camera promises after the Garces Perez shooting and demanded release of all footage from the scene.

    After the statement

    The representatives requested written DHS and ICE answers by October 14. The release is dated October 1; its linked letter is dated September 29.

    Pingree, Garcia and Casar demand body-camera accountability after three ICE shootings · Chellie PingreeOctober 1, 2026 release; quoted statements by Pingree, Garcia and Casar; final paragraph setting October 14 response deadline.

    Why this label?

    Casar says Mullin's agents 'keep shooting people' after Garces Perez was shot in the back, and demands all footage. That criticizes the shooting and offers no justification for it.

    This label describes the statement's response within the context above.

    Read statementLink to this statement
  4. U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of TexasFederal prosecutors' office for the Western District of Texas, announcing a criminal charge (U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons made the announcement)

    Before this statement

    An ICE officer shot Garces Perez in Austin on September 20. The office announced the federal charge on September 29, the day he first appeared in federal court. The release says the stop began because an immigration judge had issued a final order of removal against him.

    "The complaint alleges and body camera footage shows that after further direction from the officers in Spanish, Garces-Perez abruptly closed his window and drove off, striking one of the ICE ERO officers in the torso with the driver’s side-view mirror. The ICE ERO officers pursued Garces-Perez in their vehicles with their emergency lights and sirens activated. The complaint alleges Garces-Perez led them on a high-speed chase through a commercial and residential area. While one of the officers lost sight of Garces-Perez during the pursuit, the other ICE ERO officer caught up to Garces-Perez, who allegedly attempted to strike the officer with his car, causing the officer to fire his pistol."
    Defended or excused

    Case context: Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?

    Full statement and sources

    The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas said in a press release that the criminal complaint alleges Wilber Rafael Garces Perez drove off from an ICE traffic stop, striking an officer with his side-view mirror, led officers on a high-speed chase, and tried to strike one officer with his car, causing that officer to fire his pistol.

    After the statement

    The Associated Press reported that, according to the affidavit, Garces Perez told investigators a law enforcement SUV struck his car after a brief chase and that an agent then fired, and that the officer who fired was not wearing a body camera. It also reported that the affidavit includes screenshots from body-worn camera footage but that no video was released. The release says a detention hearing is set for October 2.

    Illegal Alien from Venezuela Charged with Assaulting and Resisting a Federal Officer in Austin · U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of TexasThird paragraph (from the sentence beginning "The complaint alleges and body camera footage shows") and fourth paragraph of the release, on the complaint's account of the stop and the pursuit
    Federal prosecutors charge Venezuelan man shot in his car by ICE agent in Texas with assaulting an officer · PBS NewsHourOpening paragraphs on the affidavit and the body-worn camera photos, and sections headed "Officer who fired wasn't wearing body camera" and "Conflicting accounts of lead-up to shooting"

    Why this label?

    The case asks whether the ICE officer's use of force against Garces Perez was justified. The release does not itself call the shot justified. It gives the office's account, taken from the complaint, that Garces Perez tried to strike an officer with his car, causing the officer to fire, which presents the shot as a response to an attempted strike, so we labeled it Defended or excused. The release adds that a criminal complaint is only an allegation.

    This label describes the statement's response within the context above.

    Read statementLink to this statement
  5. Matthew SilvermanNational President of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, writing in an editorial

    Before this statement

    On September 20, 2026, an officer-involved shooting occurred during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in Austin. Silverman wrote that public officials, commentators and news outlets began reporting on it almost immediately, with some assigning blame before many essential facts were known, and that news organizations had asked him to comment as FLEOA's national president.

    "We should not decide the Austin case through social media, political rhetoric, or incomplete reporting. We should allow investigators to determine what happened, release the facts as legally appropriate, and hold everyone involved to the same standard. The public deserves transparency. The injured individual deserves due process. The officer deserves a fair and impartial investigation. Most importantly, the truth deserves the opportunity to emerge before judgment is rendered."
    Explicitly stayed out

    Case context: Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?

    Full statement and sources

    Matthew Silverman, National President of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, wrote in a Law Enforcement Today editorial that the Austin case should not be decided through social media, political rhetoric or incomplete reporting. He said investigators should determine what happened and that the truth should emerge before judgment is rendered.

    After the statement

    In the same piece Silverman wrote that individual officers should be judged on the facts of their own conduct and not condemned merely for performing duties lawfully assigned to them. He also wrote that everyone should want a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation, and that supporting law enforcement and demanding accountability are not competing principles.

    The Austin ICE Shooting Demands Facts, Not Instant JudgmentsThe last two paragraphs of the editorial, beginning 'We should not decide the Austin case through social media'

    Why this label?

    The case asks whether ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez was justified. Silverman does not say the shot was justified or unjustified. He writes that the Austin case should not be decided before investigators establish what happened and that judgment should wait for the facts. We used the Explicitly stayed out label because he chose to withhold judgment on the shooting itself.

    This label describes the statement's response within the context above.

    Read statementLink to this statement
  6. Council on American-Islamic RelationsNational civil rights and advocacy organization, in a press release issued with its Austin office

    Before this statement

    On September 20, an ICE officer shot a man during a federal immigration enforcement operation near Research Boulevard and Anderson Square in North Austin. Austin police said their officers were not involved, and federal authorities announced their own investigation.

    "We call for a full, transparent, and independent investigation into this latest shooting, which is the foreseeable consequence of a White House’s nation-wide immigration raids that are reckless and militarized. Just months after Renée Good, an American citizen, was killed during an ICE operation in Minnesota, another family is demanding answers. If the administration’s goal is public safety, it must explain why its enforcement strategy continues to produce fear, trauma, and deadly encounters instead."
    Condemned

    Case context: Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?

    Full statement and sources

    The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said in a press release that it wants a full, transparent and independent investigation of the Austin shooting, which it called the foreseeable consequence of reckless and militarized nationwide immigration raids. It asked why the administration's enforcement strategy keeps producing fear, trauma and deadly encounters.

    After the statement

    The same release quoted Shaimaa Zayan, director of CAIR-Austin, who said every person deserves protection from unjustified use of force. CAIR-Austin also listed five requests, including that the Austin Police Department lead an independent criminal investigation and that ICE cooperate with local authorities.

    CAIR and CAIR-Austin Condemn Austin ICE Shooting, Call for Independent Investigation, Accountability and ICE Reformation · Council on American-Islamic RelationsThe block introduced by 'In a statement, Washington, D.C.-based CAIR said:', after the CAIR-Austin director's statement

    Why this label?

    The case asks whether ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez was justified. CAIR's release says the organization condemned the shooting, and its statement calls the shooting the foreseeable result of reckless and militarized immigration raids. That criticizes the conduct under scrutiny and goes beyond a request about who should investigate, so we used the Condemned label.

    This label describes the statement's response within the context above.

    Read statementLink to this statement
View all 21 responsesShow fewer responses
  1. MoveOnProgressive advocacy organization, on its official Bluesky account

    Before this statement

    MoveOn posted on Tuesday, September 22, two days after the shooting in North Austin.

    "There is no justification for ICE’s decision to shoot him. ICE has lost all credibility as an agency and must be held accountable for terrorizing our communities with violence and incompetence."
    Condemned

    Case context: Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?

    Full statement and sources

    MoveOn said Wilber Rafael Garces Perez should be home with his family, that there is no justification for ICE's decision to shoot him, and that ICE must be held accountable.

    After the statement

    Other members of Congress, Austin officials and the ACLU of Texas also criticized the shooting in the days that followed.

    Bluesky post by MoveOn, September 22, 2026 · MoveOnPost ID 3mw4pgje7662l, posted September 22, 2026, 17:03 UTC

    Why this label?

    Relative to the ICE officer's use of force against Garces Perez, MoveOn says there is no justification for the shooting and that ICE must be held accountable. That rejects the conduct under scrutiny, so we labeled it Condemned.

    This label describes the statement's response within the context above.

    Read statementLink to this statement
  2. James TalaricoTexas state representative and U.S. Senate candidate, in a post on X

    Before this statement

    The post quoted an update from Garces Perez's attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, on his worsening condition in ICE custody.

    "Wilber came to this country legally. He has no criminal record. An ICE agent shot him anyway. He slept on a prison cell floor with a bullet still lodged in his back. He can't move the left side of his body. This isn't law enforcement. It's lawlessness."
    Condemned

    Case context: Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?

    Full statement and sources

    James Talarico, a Texas state representative running for U.S. Senate, said Garces Perez entered the country legally and had no criminal record, that he was shot anyway, and that he slept on a cell floor with a bullet still in his back, unable to move his left side. Talarico called this "lawlessness," not law enforcement.

    After the statement

    DHS has not publicly responded to this characterization of the shooting.

    James Talarico posts on Garces Perez's shooting and condition · James TalaricoFull text of the post.

    Why this label?

    Talarico directly rejects the shooting as lawful conduct, condemning it rather than disputing only how it has been characterized or focusing solely on custody conditions.

    This label describes the statement's response within the context above.

    Read statementLink to this statement
  3. Greg CasarU.S. representative for Texas

    Before this statement

    The letter addressed Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and ICE leaders after the Austin shooting.

    "ICE has provided no justification for this shooting, and there is no indication Mr. Garces Perez posed a threat to officers."
    Condemned

    Case context: Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?

    Full statement and sources

    Greg Casar and congressional cosigners said ICE had offered no justification for shooting Wilber Rafael Garces Perez. Their September 22 letter demanded access to medical care, opposed deporting him while he needed treatment and sought preservation of evidence.

    After the statement

    The letter requested answers by September 28.

    Casar and congressional cosigners seek medical care for Garces PerezSeptember 22 congressional letter, page 2 paragraph beginning "ICE has provided no justification"; Greg Casar signature on page 3.

    Why this label?

    The case asks whether ICE's use of force against Garces Perez should be condemned or condoned. The letter says ICE has provided no justification for the shooting and that there is no indication he posed a threat to officers. That rejects the force used, so Condemned fits. Mixed or conditional is the closest competing label; it loses because the demands for care and evidence follow from that conclusion rather than qualifying it.

    This label describes the statement's response within the context above.

    Read statementLink to this statement
  4. Joaquin CastroU.S. Representative for Texas’s 20th congressional district

    Before this statement

    On his official House page hosting a video titled “The Austin ICE shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez,” Castro opened by referring to the shooting.

    "An ICE agent shot Wilber Rafael Garcés Perez in Austin on Sunday. Instead of receiving medical care, he was sent to an ICE prison. No pain medicine, made to sleep on the floor, and threatened with deportation. Under Trump, ICE has become rogue, lawless, and deadly."
    Condemned

    Case context: Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?

    Full statement and sources

    Rep. Joaquin Castro described ICE as “rogue, lawless, and deadly” in an official statement about the Austin shooting and called for an independent investigation, medical care for Garcés Pérez, and for him to remain in Texas.

    After the statement

    Castro also said Perez had been sent to an ICE detention facility rather than receiving medical care and called for an independent investigation, immediate medical care, and for Perez to remain in Texas. Those medical-treatment statements are Castro’s attributed account in the same official post.

    Rep. Joaquin Castro: “The Austin ICE shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez” · Joaquin CastroOpening description beneath the embedded video.

    Why this label?

    Relative to the ICE officer’s use of force against Garcés Pérez, Castro calls ICE “rogue, lawless, and deadly” in a statement specifically about the shooting and urges an independent investigation. This is condemnation of the conduct, not merely a procedural proposal.

    This label describes the statement's response within the context above.

    Read statementLink to this statement
  5. Ro KhannaU.S. Representative for California, on his official Threads account

    Before this statement

    The post followed reporting that Garces Perez was taken to a detention center with the bullet still in his back rather than held for further hospital treatment.

    "ICE shot a DoorDash driver in the back in Austin. Instead of taking him to the hospital, they carted him off to a detention center with the bullet still in his back. No one should be shot in the back and denied urgent medical care. The shooting of Venezuelan delivery driver Wilber Garcés Pérez by ICE in Austin demands a full investigation. Abolish ICE. Prosecute rogue agents."
    Condemned

    Case context: Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?

    Full statement and sources

    On Threads, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said the shooting of Garces Perez "demands a full investigation," wrote that "no one should be shot in the back and denied urgent medical care," and called to "abolish ICE" and "prosecute rogue agents."

    After the statement

    The post is the speaker's assessment of the use of force and does not independently resolve the disputed account of the shooting.

    Post by Rep. Ro Khanna (@rokhannausa) on Threads, September 22, 2026Complete post, viewed roughly 2 hours after posting

    Why this label?

    Relative to whether ICE's use of force against Wilber Rafael Garces Perez should be condemned or condoned, Khanna directly denounces the shooting and the agency's post-shooting handling of him, and calls for both an investigation and the prosecution of the officers involved, a clear condemnation.

    This label describes the statement's response within the context above.

    Read statementLink to this statement
  6. ACLU of TexasCivil-rights organization, in an official press statementDirectly involved

    Before this statement

    The statement followed Garces Perez's own account of the shooting and calls from Austin officials and members of Congress for an independent investigation.

    "This should never have happened in the first place. Wilber and his loved ones deserve answers and accountability."
    Condemned

    Case context: Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?

    Full statement and sources

    ACLU of Texas said in a statement that the shooting should never have happened and that Garces Perez and his loved ones deserve answers and accountability, calling for a full, transparent and independent investigation and for his release from detention to receive medical care.

    After the statement

    The statement did not identify specific evidence beyond Garces Perez's own account and did not address DHS's characterization of his immigration status.

    ACLU of Texas statement on the ICE shooting of Wilber Rafael Garcés Perez · ACLU of TexasFull text of the organizational statement.

    Why this label?

    ACLU of Texas directly states the shooting should not have happened, which condemns the conduct under scrutiny rather than addressing only the separate question of who should investigate it.

    This label describes the statement's response within the context above.

    Read statementLink to this statement
  7. Alex PadillaMember of the United States Congress

    Before this statement

    The statement followed the September 20 shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez by an ICE officer in Austin.

    "ICE can’t keep shooting people in our communities without any consequences. I’m calling for an independent and transparent investigation because this should have never happened to 28-year-old Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a DoorDash driver who was trying to make a delivery."
    Condemned

    Case context: Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?

    Full statement and sources

    Sen. Alex Padilla said the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez should not have happened and called for an independent and transparent investigation.

    After the statement

    The post is the speaker’s assessment of the use of force and does not independently resolve the disputed account of the shooting.

    Sen. Alex Padilla calls for an independent investigation of the Garces Perez shooting · Alex PadillaFull X post, published September 21, 2026 at 9:18 p.m. UTC

    Why this label?

    On whether ICE's use of force should be condemned or condoned, Padilla directly condemns it: he says ICE "can’t keep shooting people in our communities without any consequences" and that the shooting "should have never happened" — an express evaluation that the force used was wrongful, not merely a process complaint.

    This label describes the statement's response within the context above.

    Read statementLink to this statement
  8. Judy ChuMember of the United States Congress

    Before this statement

    The statement followed the September 20 shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez by an ICE officer in Austin.

    "Yesterday, an ICE agent shot Wilber Rafael Garces Perez while he was making a food delivery. Now, he is being held at the South Texas Detention Complex with a bullet lodged in his body, forced to sleep on the floor with no pain medication. This is the reality of the Trump administration's brutality. I have joined @RepCasar's letter demanding an independent investigation. This violence must end."
    Condemned

    Case context: Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?

    Full statement and sources

    Rep. Judy Chu characterized the shooting and alleged post-shooting treatment as Trump administration brutality, joined a call for an independent investigation, and said the violence must end. Her account of the detention conditions is her statement, not independently established by this source.

    After the statement

    The post is the speaker’s assessment of the use of force and does not independently resolve the disputed account of the shooting.

    Rep. Judy Chu says the violence against Garces Perez must end · Judy ChuFull X post, published September 21, 2026 at 9:12 p.m. UTC

    Why this label?

    On whether ICE's use of force should be condemned or condoned, Chu directly condemns it, calling the shooting and its aftermath "the reality of the Trump administration's brutality" and saying "This violence must end" — an express evaluation that the force used was wrongful.

    This label describes the statement's response within the context above.

    Read statementLink to this statement
  9. Adam SmithMember of the United States Congress

    Before this statement

    The statement followed the September 20 shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez by an ICE officer in Austin.

    "ICE continues to violently target individuals in this country, without any transparency or accountability. We need a full investigation into the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez and answers before this rogue police force continues to target more people in our country's streets."
    Condemned

    Case context: Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?

    Full statement and sources

    Rep. Adam Smith characterized ICE as violently targeting people without transparency or accountability and called for a full investigation of the Garces Perez shooting.

    After the statement

    The post is the speaker’s assessment of the use of force and does not independently resolve the disputed account of the shooting.

    Rep. Adam Smith calls for a full investigation of the Garces Perez shooting · Adam SmithFull X post, published September 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. UTC

    Why this label?

    On whether ICE's use of force should be condemned or condoned, Smith directly condemns it: he says ICE "continues to violently target individuals in this country, without any transparency or accountability" and calls it a "rogue police force" — an express evaluation that the force used was wrongful.

    This label describes the statement's response within the context above.

    Read statementLink to this statement
  10. Jacqueline Arias-BryantExecutive Director of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus

    Before this statement

    An ICE agent shot a man in North Austin on the afternoon of September 20, 2026. Austin-Travis County EMS said he was taken to a trauma center in serious but stable condition.

    "Another man has been shot during an ICE operation in Texas. Wilber Rafael Garces Perez is 28 years old and, according to his attorney, had a valid work permit and was making a DoorDash delivery when he was shot. Ruben Ray Martinez. Lorenzo Salgado Araujo. And now Wilber Rafael Garces Perez. Texas is ground zero for this administration’s immigration crackdown, and hardworking Texans are paying the price. Governor Abbott, how many more Texans have to be hurt before you step in? Wilber’s family deserves answers. I’m calling on Governor Abbott to demand a full, transparent investigation and insist federal authorities cooperate with state and local investigators. He must also stand up for Texans and demand an immediate end to ICE traffic stops. We cannot allow this to become the new normal in Texas."
    Condemned

    Case context: Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?

    Full statement and sources

    Jacqueline Arias-Bryant, executive director of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, said Texans were paying the price of the administration's immigration crackdown. She asked Governor Abbott to demand a full, transparent investigation and an immediate end to ICE traffic stops.

    After the statement

    Fox 7 reported that many of the statements from state, local and national officials called for transparency, an independent investigation and cooperation from the federal government.

    ICE shooting in North Austin: Texas leaders reactStatements section: Travis County District Attorney, Mayor Watson, Rep. Casar

    Why this label?

    The case asks whether the ICE officer's use of force against Garces Perez was justified. Arias-Bryant said Texans were paying the price of the immigration crackdown, asked how many more Texans had to be hurt, and called for an immediate end to ICE traffic stops, adding that Texas cannot allow this to become the new normal. That criticizes the conduct under scrutiny, so we labeled it Condemned.

    This label describes the statement's response within the context above.

    Read statementLink to this statement
  11. Kirk WatsonMayor of Austin, Texas

    Before this statement

    Watson responded after an ICE officer shot Garces Perez during an enforcement operation in Austin.

    "With the rogue nature of ICE and the chaos we’re seeing fomented by ICE, there’s no reason to be surprised."
    Condemned

    Case context: Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?

    Full statement and sources

    Watson condemned the shooting as part of what he called ICE’s rogue conduct and the chaos created by the agency.

    After the statement

    He said Austin residents had a right to know what happened and to feel safe in their community.

    Man shot by ICE speaks out, says bullet is still in him · ABC NewsParagraphs quoting Mayor Kirk Watson

    Why this label?

    The mayor characterizes ICE as rogue and directly links the shooting to agency-created chaos.

    This label describes the statement's response within the context above.

    Read statementLink to this statement
  12. Kate Lincoln-GoldfinchGarces Perez's immigration attorney, speaking on NewsNation Prime

    Before this statement

    The statement followed DHS's public description of Garces Perez as having a final removal order.

    "Even if he did have a final order of removal, he did not deserve to be shot in the back of the neck."
    Condemned

    Case context: Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?

    Full statement and sources

    Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, Garces Perez's attorney, said on "NewsNation Prime" that regardless of his immigration status, he did not deserve to be shot.

    After the statement

    DHS has not publicly responded to this specific characterization of the shooting as unjustified.

    NewsNation: Austin ICE officer had no right to shoot Wilber Garces Perez, attorney saysParagraph quoting Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch on NewsNation Prime.

    Why this label?

    Lincoln-Goldfinch directly says the shooting was not justified regardless of his immigration status, separating that question from his removal order rather than disputing only how the incident has been characterized.

    This label describes the statement's response within the context above.

    Read statementLink to this statement
  13. Wilber Rafael Garces PerezPerson shot by the ICE officer, speaking by phone from immigration custodyDirectly involved

    Before this statement

    The shooting occurred September 20 during an ICE enforcement operation; Garces Perez was transferred into federal immigration custody after hospital treatment.

    "He asked officers if he could stop somewhere safer than in traffic under the freeway; he said an agent refused, then he felt one shot to his back."
    Condemned

    Case context: Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?

    Full statement and sources

    Garces Perez, speaking by phone at a news conference from ICE custody, said an unmarked SUV struck his car twice before he realized his pursuers were immigration officers, that he asked an agent if he could stop somewhere safer than under a freeway overpass, and that he was shot in the back after the agent refused.

    After the statement

    As of September 22, no public account from the shooting officer or DHS has described what conduct or threat is said to have immediately preceded the shot.

    Texas Tribune: Garces Perez says he tried to pull over before ICE shot himParagraphs describing Garces Perez's account of the pursuit and shooting, his attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch's remarks, his immigration history, and his medical condition.
    NBC News: Garces Perez says he's in pain and still has the bullet in his backParagraphs quoting Rep. Greg Casar's demand for Garces Perez's release to medical care and a senior administration official's comment on his criminal history.

    Why this label?

    His account describes attempting to find a safe place to stop, being refused, and then being shot without describing any threatening conduct on his part. This directly disputes that the shooting was justified, rather than merely disputing how it has been characterized by others.

    This label describes the statement's response within the context above.

    Read statementLink to this statement
  14. Mike SiegelAustin City Council member

    Before this statement

    An ICE agent shot a man in the 8000 block of Anderson Square in North Austin on the afternoon of September 20, 2026. Siegel said he went to the scene after the Austin police chief alerted him.

    "I’m disgusted and enraged that ICE has shot yet another civilian, this time right here in our own community. The shooting occurred six blocks from my home, and I came to the scene as soon as I got a call from Chief Davis alerting me. From speaking with witnesses and my own observations at the scene, I’ve learned at least five shots were fired, and that there were two bullet holes in the rear passenger window. The driver was taken to the hospital. I was told that an ICE Ford Expedition rammed into the side of a small Toyota sedan. An ICE officer got out of the vehicle and fired through the rear passenger window. For several hours following the shooting, federal officers and state police prevented local police from conducting a crime scene investigation. As a city official, my priority is that this apparent crime is fully and fairly investigated. We must ensure this ICE agent is not allowed to leave the state of Texas and evade accountability, as has occurred with other shootings across the country. We demand either DPS or APD detain the ICE officer in question, and that this be done immediately to avoid a flight from justice."
    Condemned

    Case context: Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?

    Full statement and sources

    Austin City Council member Mike Siegel said he was disgusted and enraged that ICE had shot a civilian six blocks from his home. He described what he had learned from witnesses at the scene and asked the state Department of Public Safety or Austin police to detain the ICE officer immediately.

    After the statement

    Fox 7 reported that at a 4 p.m. news conference on September 20 the police chief said she had heard there was a brief foot pursuit but that the information was preliminary.

    ICE shooting in North Austin: Texas leaders reactStatements section: Travis County District Attorney, Mayor Watson, Rep. Casar

    Why this label?

    The case asks whether the ICE officer's use of force against Garces Perez was justified. Siegel said he was disgusted and enraged that ICE had shot a civilian, called the shooting an apparent crime, and asked that the officer be detained immediately. That rejects the conduct under scrutiny, so we labeled it Condemned.

    This label describes the statement's response within the context above.

    Read statementLink to this statement
  15. Travis County District Attorney's OfficeCounty prosecutor's office, in an official press release

    Before this statement

    An ICE agent shot a man in North Austin on the afternoon of September 20, 2026, and the office issued its statement that day.

    "A member of our community was shot by an ICE agent this afternoon. It is critical that all the facts come to light and that an independent investigation be completed. We are requesting that the Austin Police Department and our office, the Travis County District Attorney, be co-equal partners in the investigation. We further request cooperation from the federal government in giving us access to the evidence. As has occurred in other jurisdictions, it is possible that this incident included violations of state law."
    Mixed or conditional

    Case context: Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?

    Full statement and sources

    The Travis County District Attorney's Office said an ICE agent had shot a member of the community and that an independent investigation should be completed, with Austin police and the district attorney as co-equal partners. It said it was possible the incident included violations of state law.

    After the statement

    On September 22, the office sent a letter to DHS and ICE asking that removal proceedings against Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be halted while the investigation into his shooting continues. The office said his ability to take part as a material witness would be severely hindered if he were removed from the United States.

    Travis County District Attorney’s Office Releases Statement on Reported ICE Agent Shooting of a Community MemberEntire release, dated September 20, 2026
    ICE shooting in North Austin: Texas leaders reactStatements section: Travis County District Attorney, Mayor Watson, Rep. Casar
    Travis County District Attorney's Office sends letter to DHS and ICE to halt removal proceedings against Wilbur Rafael Garces PerezEntire official release and linked 9.22.26 TCDA Letter

    Why this label?

    The case asks whether the ICE officer's use of force against Garces Perez was justified. The office did not call the shooting justified or unjustified. It said it was possible the incident included violations of state law and asked for an independent investigation and access to federal evidence, so its view rested on facts it said still needed to come to light. We labeled it Mixed or conditional.

    This label describes the statement's response within the context above.

    Read statementLink to this statement

Sources

(39)

Reporting

Texas Tribune: Garces Perez says he tried to pull over before ICE shot him

Texas Tribune: Garces Perez says he tried to pull over before ICE shot him (opens in a new tab)Paragraphs describing Garces Perez's account of the pursuit and shooting, his attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch's remarks, his immigration history, and his medical condition.
Read source (opens in a new tab)

Relevant passage: Paragraphs describing Garces Perez's account of the pursuit and shooting, his attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch's remarks, his immigration history, and his medical condition.

Excerpt

"He asked officers if he could stop somewhere safer than in traffic under the freeway; he said an agent refused, and then he felt one shot to his back."

About this source

The Texas Tribune's detailed account of Garces Perez's version of events: an unmarked SUV sideswiped him twice before he realized it was ICE; he did a U-turn under a freeway; he asked to stop somewhere safer than under the freeway and was refused; he was then shot. It also reports his immigration history (CBP One entry in 2024, asylum application, work permit, a missed hearing after notice went to an old address) and that hospital staff would not remove the bullet because it was too close to his spine.

Author
Uriel J. Garcia, Alex Nguyen, Zach Leggio, Laura Duclos
Published
Accessed

Reporting

Austin police say DHS has not shared evidence in ICE shooting investigation

Austin police say DHS has not shared evidence in ICE shooting investigation (opens in a new tab) · Austin American-StatesmanAPD statement supplied Wednesday, October 7; paragraphs listing requested reports and recordings and describing continued independent investigation.
Read source (opens in a new tab)

Relevant passage: APD statement supplied Wednesday, October 7; paragraphs listing requested reports and recordings and describing continued independent investigation.

About this source

The American-Statesman quotes a direct APD statement that requested federal material had not arrived. The statement concerns access to evidence and the ongoing local investigation; it does not resolve the justification for the shooting.

Author
Tony Plohetski
Published
Accessed

Original text

Casar and congressional cosigners seek medical care for Garces Perez

Casar and congressional cosigners seek medical care for Garces Perez (opens in a new tab)September 22 congressional letter, page 2 paragraph beginning "ICE has provided no justification"; Greg Casar signature on page 3.
Read source (opens in a new tab)

Relevant passage: September 22 congressional letter, page 2 paragraph beginning "ICE has provided no justification"; Greg Casar signature on page 3.

About this source

The lawmakers' demand for care and evidence preservation.

Author
Greg Casar and congressional cosigners
Published
Accessed
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Original text

Garcia, Casar and Pingree letter requesting answers on ICE body cameras

Garcia, Casar and Pingree letter requesting answers on ICE body cameras (opens in a new tab) · Chellie PingreeThree-page letter; page 1 date and discussion of the three shootings; page 2 questions 1-7 and October 14 deadline; page 3 signatures.
Read source (opens in a new tab)

Relevant passage: Three-page letter; page 1 date and discussion of the three shootings; page 2 questions 1-7 and October 14 deadline; page 3 signatures.

About this source

The letter requests camera, training and footage information from DHS and ICE. It is dated September 29, 2026 and was linked in an October 1 release. The document does not establish its transmission time or resolve the disputed shootings.

Author
Sylvia R. Garcia, Greg Casar and Chellie Pingree
Published
Accessed
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Official statement

Pingree, Garcia and Casar demand body-camera accountability after three ICE shootings

Pingree, Garcia and Casar demand body-camera accountability after three ICE shootings (opens in a new tab) · Chellie PingreeOctober 1, 2026 release; quoted statements by Pingree, Garcia and Casar; final paragraph setting October 14 response deadline.
Read source (opens in a new tab)

Relevant passage: October 1, 2026 release; quoted statements by Pingree, Garcia and Casar; final paragraph setting October 14 response deadline.

About this source

Pingree's office announces a joint oversight letter concerning the shootings of Johan Sebastian Duran Guerrero, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Wilber Rafael Garces Perez. The linked letter is dated September 29; the release is dated October 1 and supplies no clock time. The representatives' allegations and assessments are attributed statements.

Author
Office of U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree
Published
Accessed

Original post

Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch says Garces Perez's care does not resolve accountability questions

Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch says Garces Perez's care does not resolve accountability questions (opens in a new tab) · Kate Lincoln-GoldfinchCaption of attorneygoldfinch's October 1 Instagram reel, opening sentence and closing paragraph; post timestamp October 2, 01:54:21 UTC.
Read source (opens in a new tab)

Relevant passage: Caption of attorneygoldfinch's October 1 Instagram reel, opening sentence and closing paragraph; post timestamp October 2, 01:54:21 UTC.

About this source

Lincoln-Goldfinch discusses Garces Perez's surgery and criticizes ICE's enforcement power and oversight. She welcomes his medical care while saying it does not resolve what happened or the remaining questions. The caption states her assessment of his case.

Author
Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch
Published
Accessed

Reporting

Protesters rally in Austin after ICE shooting, arrests tied to demonstrations

Protesters rally in Austin after ICE shooting, arrests tied to demonstrations (opens in a new tab)October 5, 2026, 11:07 AM, updated 11:19 AM; courthouse photograph, lead and paragraphs on Emilia Figueroa and India Brookhouser
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Relevant passage: October 5, 2026, 11:07 AM, updated 11:19 AM; courthouse photograph, lead and paragraphs on Emilia Figueroa and India Brookhouser

About this source

CBS Austin reports from a Monday morning rally outside the Travis County Courthouse after the shooting of Wilber Garces Perez. Participants accuse state authorities of targeting protesters; their accounts of arrests and detention are attributed to them.

Author
Alexia Stanbridge and Tara Brolley
Published
Accessed

Original text

Garces Perez v. Thompson: October 1 voluntary-dismissal notice

Garces Perez v. Thompson: October 1 voluntary-dismissal notice (opens in a new tab)Western District of Texas case 5:26-cv-06038, docket entry 13, filed and entered October 1, 2026; docket header Date Terminated October 1, 2026.
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Relevant passage: Western District of Texas case 5:26-cv-06038, docket entry 13, filed and entered October 1, 2026; docket header Date Terminated October 1, 2026.

About this source

The reproduced court docket lists a notice of voluntary dismissal by Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, filed by Kristin Etter. The entry concerns his civil habeas petition. It does not record a dismissal of his separate criminal charge or a ruling on whether the shooting was justified. The full notice is not publicly available at this link.

Accessed

Interview

Community gathers in support of Wilber Garces Perez as he recovers, faces charges

Community gathers in support of Wilber Garces Perez as he recovers, faces charges (opens in a new tab)October 4 article: opening account of the same-day forum and closing quotation from Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch about support and accountability.
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Relevant passage: October 4 article: opening account of the same-day forum and closing quotation from Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch about support and accountability.

About this source

CBS Austin covers an October 4 gathering of immigrant advocates, faith leaders and community members. Attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch says Garces Perez is recovering from Thursday surgery, remains in a county jail facility and appreciates community support. The account supplies her update, not medical records or a resolution of the charge.

Author
Brenna Gibbons
Published
Accessed

Reporting

Austin man has surgery 11 days after being shot by ICE agent

Austin man has surgery 11 days after being shot by ICE agent (opens in a new tab)First four substantive paragraphs: Thursday surgery, bullet removal, recovery and Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch's account of a conversation with Garces Perez's wife.
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Relevant passage: First four substantive paragraphs: Thursday surgery, bullet removal, recovery and Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch's account of a conversation with Garces Perez's wife.

About this source

CBS Austin republishes The Texas Tribune's report. The article attributes the October 1 surgery and recovery to Rep. Joaquin Castro and Garces Perez's legal team, including Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch. It is the same underlying Tribune report, not independent corroboration of other republications.

Author
Zach Leggio, The Texas Tribune
Published
Accessed
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Reporting

Man shot by ICE officer to remain in custody, judge says criminal prosecution can continue

Man shot by ICE officer to remain in custody, judge says criminal prosecution can continue (opens in a new tab)September 30 article, first eight substantive paragraphs describing Howell's ruling, Bazan's testimony, the body-camera presentation and McMahon's objection.
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Relevant passage: September 30 article, first eight substantive paragraphs describing Howell's ruling, Bazan's testimony, the body-camera presentation and McMahon's objection.

About this source

CBS Austin separately reports the September 30 federal detention hearing. It says the judge denied bond and found probable cause for the charge to proceed; it also reports the defense's dispute over whether footage showed contact with an officer. A probable-cause finding does not establish guilt.

Author
Andrew Lamparski
Published
Accessed
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Reporting

Man shot by ICE in Austin will stay in custody, but will not return to detention center

Man shot by ICE in Austin will stay in custody, but will not return to detention center (opens in a new tab)Opening hearing account; section 'Unreleased body-cam footage shown in court', especially Bazan's testimony and the prosecution and defense accounts of the side mirror.
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Relevant passage: Opening hearing account; section 'Unreleased body-cam footage shown in court', especially Bazan's testimony and the prosecution and defense accounts of the side mirror.

About this source

KUT reports from the September 30 detention hearing before Magistrate Judge Dustin M. Howell. It describes the flight-risk ruling, presentation of body-camera footage and opposing arguments about alleged contact with an officer. Updated October 1. The criminal charge remains an allegation.

Author
Gabriel Velasquez Neira
Published
Accessed
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Reporting

Federal prosecutors charge Venezuelan man shot in his car by ICE agent in Texas with assaulting an officer

Federal prosecutors charge Venezuelan man shot in his car by ICE agent in Texas with assaulting an officer (opens in a new tab) · PBS NewsHourOpening paragraphs on the affidavit and the body-worn camera photos, and sections headed "Officer who fired wasn't wearing body camera" and "Conflicting accounts of lead-up to shooting"
Read source (opens in a new tab)

Relevant passage: Opening paragraphs on the affidavit and the body-worn camera photos, and sections headed "Officer who fired wasn't wearing body camera" and "Conflicting accounts of lead-up to shooting"

Excerpt

"The unnamed officer who shot Garces Perez wasn't wearing a body camera."

About this source

Associated Press report, published September 29, 2026 and carried by PBS NewsHour, on the criminal complaint and affidavit against Garces Perez.

Author
Anna Wilder and Safiyah Riddle, Associated Press
Published
Accessed
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Official statement

Illegal Alien from Venezuela Charged with Assaulting and Resisting a Federal Officer in Austin

Illegal Alien from Venezuela Charged with Assaulting and Resisting a Federal Officer in Austin (opens in a new tab) · U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of TexasThird paragraph (from the sentence beginning "The complaint alleges and body camera footage shows") and fourth paragraph of the release, on the complaint's account of the stop and the pursuit
Read source (opens in a new tab)

Relevant passage: Third paragraph (from the sentence beginning "The complaint alleges and body camera footage shows") and fourth paragraph of the release, on the complaint's account of the stop and the pursuit

Excerpt

"the other ICE ERO officer caught up to Garces-Perez, who allegedly attempted to strike the officer with his car, causing the officer to fire his pistol."

About this source

Press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas, dated September 29, 2026, announcing the federal charge against Wilber Rafael Garces-Perez.

Published
Accessed
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Original text

The Austin ICE Shooting Demands Facts, Not Instant Judgments

The Austin ICE Shooting Demands Facts, Not Instant Judgments (opens in a new tab)The last two paragraphs of the editorial, beginning 'We should not decide the Austin case through social media'
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Relevant passage: The last two paragraphs of the editorial, beginning 'We should not decide the Austin case through social media'

Excerpt

"We should not decide the Austin case through social media, political rhetoric, or incomplete reporting. We should allow investigators to determine what happened, release the facts as legally appropriate, and hold everyone involved to the same standard."

About this source

First-person editorial by the National President of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, published on Law Enforcement Today on September 24, 2026. The site notes that opinions in the piece are not necessarily its own.

Author
Mathew Silverman
Published
Accessed
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Official statement

CAIR and CAIR-Austin Condemn Austin ICE Shooting, Call for Independent Investigation, Accountability and ICE Reformation

CAIR and CAIR-Austin Condemn Austin ICE Shooting, Call for Independent Investigation, Accountability and ICE Reformation (opens in a new tab) · Council on American-Islamic RelationsThe block introduced by 'In a statement, Washington, D.C.-based CAIR said:', after the CAIR-Austin director's statement
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Relevant passage: The block introduced by 'In a statement, Washington, D.C.-based CAIR said:', after the CAIR-Austin director's statement

Excerpt

"We call for a full, transparent, and independent investigation into this latest shooting, which is the foreseeable consequence of a White House’s nation-wide immigration raids that are reckless and militarized."

About this source

Press release from the Council on American-Islamic Relations and its Austin office, published September 23, 2026, three days after the shooting. It includes statements from CAIR-Austin's director and from the national organization.

Published
Accessed

Official statement

Travis County District Attorney’s Office Releases Statement on Reported ICE Agent Shooting of a Community Member

Travis County District Attorney’s Office Releases Statement on Reported ICE Agent Shooting of a Community Member (opens in a new tab)Entire release, dated September 20, 2026
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Relevant passage: Entire release, dated September 20, 2026

Excerpt

"It is critical that all the facts come to light and that an independent investigation be completed. We are requesting that the Austin Police Department and our office, the Travis County District Attorney, be co-equal partners in the investigation."

About this source

Official statement from the Travis County District Attorney's Office, issued the day of the shooting. It asks for an independent investigation and for federal cooperation in giving local investigators access to the evidence.

Published
Accessed
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Original post

Bluesky post by MoveOn, September 22, 2026

Bluesky post by MoveOn, September 22, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · MoveOnPost ID 3mw4pgje7662l, posted September 22, 2026, 17:03 UTC
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Relevant passage: Post ID 3mw4pgje7662l, posted September 22, 2026, 17:03 UTC

Excerpt

"There is no justification for ICE’s decision to shoot him. ICE has lost all credibility as an agency and must be held accountable for terrorizing our communities with violence and incompetence."

About this source

MoveOn's own post on its official Bluesky account (moveon.org). The post text was read through Bluesky's public API and matches the excerpt.

Author
MoveOn
Published
Accessed
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Official statement

Travis County District Attorney's Office sends letter to DHS and ICE to halt removal proceedings against Wilbur Rafael Garces Perez

Travis County District Attorney's Office sends letter to DHS and ICE to halt removal proceedings against Wilbur Rafael Garces Perez (opens in a new tab)Entire official release and linked 9.22.26 TCDA Letter
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Relevant passage: Entire official release and linked 9.22.26 TCDA Letter

Excerpt

"Mr. Garces Perez's ability to participate as a material witness will be severely hindered if he is removed from the United States."

About this source

The Travis County District Attorney's Office said it asked DHS and ICE to halt removal proceedings against Garces Perez while the local investigation continues. The request seeks to preserve his ability to participate as a material witness; it does not represent a decision by DHS, ICE, or a court.

Author
Travis County District Attorney's Office
Published
Accessed
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Official statement

Casar reports on Garces Perez after a detention visit and calls for medical release

Casar reports on Garces Perez after a detention visit and calls for medical release (opens in a new tab) · Greg CasarSeptember 23, 2026 dateline; opening visit description; Casar quotation; paragraphs calling for an investigation, footage release, and DHS briefing.
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Relevant passage: September 23, 2026 dateline; opening visit description; Casar quotation; paragraphs calling for an investigation, footage release, and DHS briefing.

About this source

Official release from Representative Greg Casar's office. It reports on his detention visit with Wilber Rafael Garces Perez and states Casar's requests for medical release, body- and dash-camera footage, and a transparent investigation. Medical and detention-condition assertions are attributed to Casar and Garces Perez; the release is not an independent investigation.

Author
Office of Representative Greg Casar
Published
Accessed
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Original post

DHS (@DHSgov) X post in Austin ICE shooting thread, September 22, 2026

DHS (@DHSgov) X post in Austin ICE shooting thread, September 22, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · U.S. Department of Homeland SecuritySeventh post in the DHSgov Austin ICE-shooting thread

Excerpt

"This illegal alien was the subject of a targeted vehicle stop."

About this source

An official DHS social-media statement about the Austin shooting. It records the department’s characterization of the stop and Garcés Pérez’s conduct; it does not independently establish those assertions.

Author
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Published
Accessed

Reporting

US judge blocks deportation of DoorDash driver shot by ICE

US judge blocks deportation of DoorDash driver shot by ICE (opens in a new tab)Opening paragraphs and passage explaining the September 30 in-person hearing and temporary block.
Read source (opens in a new tab)

Relevant passage: Opening paragraphs and passage explaining the September 30 in-person hearing and temporary block.

Excerpt

"Since the judge ordered that her client appear in person on 30 September, he cannot be deported before then, she said."

About this source

BBC News reported that Judge Orlando Garcia scheduled an in-person hearing for Garcés Pérez and quoted his lawyer’s account that the order temporarily blocked deportation. The article independently corroborates the reported hearing; it does not replace the court order.

Author
Nardine Saad
Published
Accessed
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Reporting

ICE officer who shot Austin delivery driver was not wearing a body camera, sources say

ICE officer who shot Austin delivery driver was not wearing a body camera, sources say (opens in a new tab)Paragraphs describing the September 30 in-person habeas hearing and the APD video releases.
Read source (opens in a new tab)

Relevant passage: Paragraphs describing the September 30 in-person habeas hearing and the APD video releases.

Excerpt

"U.S. District Court Judge Orlando Garcia ordered Garces Perez to attend an in-person hearing on the habeas claim next Wednesday, Sept. 30."

About this source

CBS News reported that Judge Orlando Garcia ordered Garcés Pérez to attend an in-person hearing on his habeas petition on September 30 and described the order as preventing deportation until then. The report is evidence of the reported procedural development, not a substitute for the court order.

Published
Accessed
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Reporting

Houston Public Media reporting on Garcés Pérez’s federal hearing after the Austin ICE shooting

Houston Public Media reporting on Garcés Pérez’s federal hearing after the Austin ICE shooting (opens in a new tab)Passage stating that a judge set a September 30 San Antonio hearing and ordered Garcés Pérez to be present.
Read source (opens in a new tab)

Relevant passage: Passage stating that a judge set a September 30 San Antonio hearing and ordered Garcés Pérez to be present.

Excerpt

"A judge has set a hearing for Sept. 30 in San Antonio and ordered that Wilber must be present."

About this source

Houston Public Media reported that a judge set a September 30 hearing in San Antonio on Garcés Pérez’s federal case and ordered his presence. The report is used as attributed reporting of a procedural development; no underlying court order was available in this review.

Published
Accessed
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Original video

Body-worn Camera Video: Sept. 20, 2026 ICE Incident

Body-worn Camera Video: Sept. 20, 2026 ICE Incident (opens in a new tab)Austin Police YouTube upload; 2:09 video, uploaded September 22; opening transcript.

Body-worn camera video of the Sept. 20, 2026 ICE incident, released by the Austin Police Department on Sept. 22, 2026.

DI added its logo in the corner.

Video: Austin Police Department

Watch the full original video (opens in a new tab) (relevant passage: Austin Police YouTube upload; 2:09 video, uploaded September 22; opening transcript.)

Excerpt

"We've got It looks like one gunshot wound so far."

About this source

Austin Police publicly uploaded this 2-minute, 9-second body-worn-camera video on September 22 under a title identifying it as footage from the September 20 ICE incident. The visible opening records the immediate response; the video does not by itself resolve the circumstances or justification of the shooting.

Author
Austin Police
Published
Accessed
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Original video

Off-Duty Dashcam Video: Sept. 20, 2026 ICE Incident

Off-Duty Dashcam Video: Sept. 20, 2026 ICE Incident (opens in a new tab)Austin Police YouTube upload; 17-second video, uploaded September 22.

Off-duty officer dashcam video of the Sept. 20, 2026 ICE incident, released by the Austin Police Department on Sept. 22, 2026.

DI added its logo in the corner.

Video: Austin Police Department

Watch the full original video (opens in a new tab) (relevant passage: Austin Police YouTube upload; 17-second video, uploaded September 22.)

Excerpt

"Off-Duty Dashcam Video - Sept. 20, 2026 ICE Incident"

About this source

Austin Police publicly uploaded this 17-second video on September 22 under a title identifying it as off-duty dashcam footage from the September 20 ICE incident. The upload documents APD's evidence release; by itself it does not explain or resolve the shooting.

Author
Austin Police
Published
Accessed
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Original post

James Talarico posts on Garces Perez's shooting and condition

James Talarico posts on Garces Perez's shooting and condition (opens in a new tab) · James TalaricoFull text of the post.

Excerpt

"This isn't law enforcement. It's lawlessness."

About this source

James Talarico's own X post, quote-posting Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch's update on Garces Perez's condition, adding that he entered the country legally, has no criminal record, and calling the shooting lawlessness rather than law enforcement.

Author
James Talarico
Published
Accessed

Reporting

CNN video reports attorney’s new account of Garces Perez’s condition

CNN video reports attorney’s new account of Garces Perez’s condition (opens in a new tab)Lead and 0:00; CNN says attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch told Erin Burnett that Garces Perez had lost movement on his entire left side
Read source (opens in a new tab)

Relevant passage: Lead and 0:00; CNN says attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch told Erin Burnett that Garces Perez had lost movement on his entire left side

Excerpt

"“He has lost movement on the entire left side of his body.”"

About this source

CNN attributes the medical and transfer details in this short video to Garces Perez’s attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch. The report does not include a hospital statement or an official DHS account, so the details are recorded as her account rather than independently confirmed medical findings.

Author
Aria Chen / CNN
Published
Accessed

Original post

Rep. Adam Smith calls for a full investigation of the Garces Perez shooting

Rep. Adam Smith calls for a full investigation of the Garces Perez shooting (opens in a new tab) · Adam SmithFull X post, published September 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. UTC

Excerpt

"We need a full investigation into the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez and answers before this rogue police force continues to target more people in our country's streets."

About this source

In a direct post, Rep. Adam Smith called for a full investigation and characterized ICE as violently targeting people without transparency or accountability. This is Smith’s assessment; the post does not independently establish the broader characterization.

Author
Adam Smith
Published
Accessed

Original post

Rep. Judy Chu says the violence against Garces Perez must end

Rep. Judy Chu says the violence against Garces Perez must end (opens in a new tab) · Judy ChuFull X post, published September 21, 2026 at 9:12 p.m. UTC

Excerpt

"I have joined @RepCasar's letter demanding an independent investigation. This violence must end."

About this source

In a direct post, Rep. Judy Chu said she joined Rep. Greg Casar’s letter demanding an independent investigation and called for the violence to end. Her statements about Garces Perez’s detention and medical condition are attributed to her and are not treated as independently verified by this source.

Author
Judy Chu
Published
Accessed

Original post

Sen. Alex Padilla calls for an independent investigation of the Garces Perez shooting

Sen. Alex Padilla calls for an independent investigation of the Garces Perez shooting (opens in a new tab) · Alex PadillaFull X post, published September 21, 2026 at 9:18 p.m. UTC

Excerpt

"ICE can’t keep shooting people in our communities without any consequences."

About this source

In a direct post, Sen. Alex Padilla called for an independent and transparent investigation into the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez and said it should not have happened.

Author
Alex Padilla
Published
Accessed

Reporting

NewsNation: Austin ICE officer had no right to shoot Wilber Garces Perez, attorney says

NewsNation: Austin ICE officer had no right to shoot Wilber Garces Perez, attorney says (opens in a new tab)Paragraph quoting Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch on NewsNation Prime.
Read source (opens in a new tab)

Relevant passage: Paragraph quoting Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch on NewsNation Prime.

Excerpt

"Even if he did have a final order of removal, he did not deserve to be shot in the back of the neck."

About this source

NewsNation reports Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, Garces Perez's attorney, saying on "NewsNation Prime" that regardless of his immigration status, the shooting was not justified.

Published
Accessed

Original post

Rep. Joaquin Castro Instagram update on Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez’s medical condition

Rep. Joaquin Castro Instagram update on Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez’s medical condition (opens in a new tab) · Joaquin CastroVerified @joaquincastrotx reel caption, beginning “Update on the condition of Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez”
Read source (opens in a new tab)

Relevant passage: Verified @joaquincastrotx reel caption, beginning “Update on the condition of Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez”

Excerpt

"He’s being taken to the hospital. He is in tremendous pain."

About this source

In a verified public Instagram reel, Rep. Joaquin Castro said Garcés Pérez was being taken to a hospital from the South Texas ICE Processing Center, had a bullet still inside his left side, and could not move the left side of his body. The post is Castro’s account of Pérez’s reported condition; it is not an independent medical-provider or DHS confirmation.

Author
Joaquin Castro
Published
Accessed

Reporting

NBC News: Garces Perez says he's in pain and still has the bullet in his back

NBC News: Garces Perez says he's in pain and still has the bullet in his back (opens in a new tab)Paragraphs quoting Rep. Greg Casar's demand for Garces Perez's release to medical care and a senior administration official's comment on his criminal history.
Read source (opens in a new tab)

Relevant passage: Paragraphs quoting Rep. Greg Casar's demand for Garces Perez's release to medical care and a senior administration official's comment on his criminal history.

Excerpt

"I am demanding, and Congress is making very clear to the head of ICE and to Secretary Mullin, that Wilber Garces needs to be released to medical care and should not be in Pearsall. He needs to be released right now."

About this source

NBC News reports Garces Perez's account (shot near the clavicle, has not received needed medical attention), Rep. Greg Casar's demand that he be released from the Pearsall detention facility for medical care, and a senior administration official's statement that Garces Perez had no criminal history beyond being in the country illegally.

Author
Daniella Silva, Ryan Chandler
Published
Accessed

Official statement

ACLU of Texas statement on the ICE shooting of Wilber Rafael Garcés Perez

ACLU of Texas statement on the ICE shooting of Wilber Rafael Garcés Perez (opens in a new tab) · ACLU of TexasFull text of the organizational statement.
Read source (opens in a new tab)

Relevant passage: Full text of the organizational statement.

Excerpt

"This should never have happened in the first place. Wilber and his loved ones deserve answers and accountability."

About this source

ACLU of Texas's official press-release statement, published September 21, 2026, calling the shooting unjustified, demanding a full, transparent and independent investigation, and calling for Garces Perez's release from immigration detention so he can receive adequate medical care.

Published
Accessed
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Official statement

Rep. Joaquin Castro: “The Austin ICE shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez”

Rep. Joaquin Castro: “The Austin ICE shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez” (opens in a new tab) · Joaquin CastroOpening description beneath the embedded video.
Read source (opens in a new tab)

Relevant passage: Opening description beneath the embedded video.

Excerpt

"Under Trump, ICE has become rogue, lawless, and deadly."

About this source

An official House page hosting Castro’s video about the Austin shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez. The page says Castro is calling for an independent investigation, immediate medical care, and for Perez to remain in Texas; it also contains Castro’s attributed account of Perez’s detention and medical treatment. Embedded video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhFBycT6Ups.

Author
Rep. Joaquin Castro
Published
Accessed

Reporting

Man shot by ICE speaks out, says bullet is still in him

Man shot by ICE speaks out, says bullet is still in him (opens in a new tab) · ABC NewsParagraphs quoting Mayor Kirk Watson
Read source (opens in a new tab)

Relevant passage: Paragraphs quoting Mayor Kirk Watson

Excerpt

"With the rogue nature of ICE and the chaos we’re seeing fomented by ICE, there’s no reason to be surprised."

About this source

ABC News report on Garces Perez’s account, DHS’s limited statement and Austin Mayor Kirk Watson’s response to the shooting.

Author
Leah Sarnoff, Laura Romero, Luke Barr and Bill Hutchinson
Published
Accessed

Original text

Post by Rep. Ro Khanna (@rokhannausa) on Threads, September 22, 2026

Post by Rep. Ro Khanna (@rokhannausa) on Threads, September 22, 2026 (opens in a new tab)Complete post, viewed roughly 2 hours after posting
Read source (opens in a new tab)

Relevant passage: Complete post, viewed roughly 2 hours after posting

Excerpt

"ICE shot a DoorDash driver in the back in Austin. Instead of taking him to the hospital, they carted him off to a detention center with the bullet still in his back."

About this source

Khanna's post on his official Threads account (@rokhannausa), which matches the handle pattern of his verified Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook accounts. The post time is approximate rather than to the minute.

Author
Ro Khanna (@rokhannausa)
Published
Accessed

Reporting

ICE shooting in North Austin: Texas leaders react

ICE shooting in North Austin: Texas leaders react (opens in a new tab)Statements section: Travis County District Attorney, Mayor Watson, Rep. Casar
Read source (opens in a new tab)

Relevant passage: Statements section: Travis County District Attorney, Mayor Watson, Rep. Casar

About this source

Roundup that reproduces the full text of statements from Mayor Watson, the Travis County District Attorney, Rep. Casar and others on the day of the shooting.

Author
FOX 7 Austin
Published
Accessed

Case updates

Updates on the Garces Perez shooting and assault charge

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Cite this record

Publisher
The Dispute Index
Title
Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?
First published
Last updated
Permalink
https://disputeindex.com/cases/should-ice-s-use-of-force-in-the-shooting-of-wilber-rafael-garces-perez-be-condemned-or-condoned

The Dispute Index. "Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?". First published: 2026-09-22. Last updated: 2026-10-06. https://disputeindex.com/cases/should-ice-s-use-of-force-in-the-shooting-of-wilber-rafael-garces-perez-be-condemned-or-condoned