ACLU of Texas says the shooting "should never have happened"
Civil-rights organization, in an official press statement
“This should never have happened in the first place. Wilber and his loved ones deserve answers and accountability.”
Source and context
Official statement
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.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
The statement followed Garces Perez's own account of the shooting and calls from Austin officials and members of Congress for an independent investigation.
After the quotation
The statement did not identify specific evidence beyond Garces Perez's own account and did not address DHS's characterization of his immigration status.
How this statement is classified
Case context: Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?
The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case's fixed reference point is whether the officer's use of force was justified. 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.
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- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?
Explore the case context, sources and public responses.
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