Talarico calls the shooting "lawlessness," not law enforcement
James TalaricoTexas state representative and U.S. Senate candidate, in a post on X
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.
“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.”
Original post
Where this statement fits
Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?
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.
Source and context
Original post
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.
Before the quotation
The post quoted an update from Garces Perez's attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, on his worsening condition in ICE custody.
After the quotation
DHS has not publicly responded to this characterization of the shooting.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
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.
- Recorded on
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- People and groups discussed
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
More from this case
Read the full caseKate Lincoln-Goldfinch criticizes ICE violence and medical care in the Garces Perez case
“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.”Read statement
Lincoln-Goldfinch criticizes ICE oversight after Garces Perez's surgery
“His case demonstrates the dangers of giving an agency enormous resources and enforcement power without adequate oversight and accountability.”Read statement
Casar demands all footage from the Garces Perez shooting
“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.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Talarico calls the shooting "lawlessness," not law enforcement". First published: 2026-09-22. Last updated: 2026-09-22. https://disputeindex.com/events/1441-james-talarico-a-texas-state-representative-running-for