Lincoln-Goldfinch criticizes ICE oversight after Garces Perez's surgery
Kate Lincoln-GoldfinchAttorney for Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, writing on her personal Instagram account
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.
“His case demonstrates the dangers of giving an agency enormous resources and enforcement power without adequate oversight and accountability.”
Original post
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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
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.
Before the quotation
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.
After the quotation
She said she was grateful he received medical care but that it did not erase what happened or the questions that remained.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
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.
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- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
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Read the full caseCasar 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
U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas says the complaint alleges Garces Perez tried to hit an officer with his car, causing the officer to fire
U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas
“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.”Read statement
FLEOA president Silverman says judgment on the Austin ICE shooting should wait for investigators
“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.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Lincoln-Goldfinch criticizes ICE oversight after Garces Perez's surgery". First published: 2026-10-06. Last updated: 2026-10-06. https://disputeindex.com/events/4856-kate-lincoln-goldfinch-criticized-ice-s-enforcement-power