ICE Officer Shot Man in Austin Without Wearing Body Camera, Investigation Reveals
ICE officer shot man in Austin without body camera. Incident sparks calls for transparency and release of detained driver.
POLICY WIRE — Austin, Texas — An ICE officer shot a DoorDash driver in Austin on Sunday without wearing a body camera, according to officials. The incident has raised concerns about accountability and the treatment of individuals in immigration custody.
The officer who fired the shot was not using his body camera, while another ICE agent in the same vehicle had one active. The footage captured by that camera does not include the moment of the shooting, officials said Tuesday.
Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, 28, was shot during a delivery run and taken to a hospital before being placed in immigration custody at the South Texas ICE Processing Center in Pearsall, Texas. His attorney reported that a bullet remains lodged in his back, and he has been experiencing limited mobility in his arm since the incident.
Garcés Pérez’s legal team has criticized his treatment, claiming he was moved from the infirmary to an isolated room after speaking out about his medical care. His attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, said he was restrained during transport and received inadequate medical attention. She also highlighted that he was discharged from the hospital and returned to detention without proper medical support.
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Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, called for immediate action, stating that Garcés Pérez was forced back into custody despite serious injuries. Castro and Rep. Greg Casar plan to visit him Wednesday to demand his release.
Garcés Pérez entered the U.S. legally and sought asylum. His attorney said he missed an immigration court hearing due to a misaddressed notice, leading to a deportation order. Officials have not commented on these claims.
A witness described seeing Garcés Pérez injured and crying after the shooting, expressing anger over what he witnessed. Video footage shows the driver being taken from his car, handcuffed, and surrounded by officers, with visible blood on his back.
While the Department of Homeland Security stated Garcés Pérez is in stable condition, his legal team continues to push for his release and better medical care. The case has sparked renewed scrutiny of ICE procedures and the use of body cameras during encounters.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
