In short
- Wilber Rafael Garcés Perez, 28, a Venezuelan DoorDash delivery driver, was shot in the torso by an ICE agent in Austin, Texas, on Sunday shortly before 1300 local time.
- His lawyer, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, told US media that Garcés Perez was moved from hospital to an ICE detention centre with a bullet still in his back.
- The Department of Homeland Security said it is investigating the shooting of a man in Austin who had entered the country illegally.
- Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, a Democrat, said residents have a right to know what happened and that the city would be involved in the investigation.
- Texas Congressman Greg Casar demanded an independent investigation, the release of body camera footage and accountability for any ICE officer who broke the law.
A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and wounded Wilber Rafael Garcés Perez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan DoorDash delivery driver, in Austin, Texas, on Sunday shortly before 1300 local time. His lawyer says he was moved from hospital to an ICE detention centre with a bullet still in his back.
What does the Department of Homeland Security say?
The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement to the BBC that it was investigating the shooting of a man in Austin who had entered the country illegally. It is unclear what led to the shooting, and the local mayor and police have demanded an investigation. The Trump administration has defended its immigration policies and ICE’s tactics as necessary for public safety and for carrying out Trump’s campaign promise to secure the border and conduct mass deportations.
Who is Wilber Rafael Garcés Perez?
Garcés Perez is a Venezuelan national who worked as a DoorDash driver in Texas. Attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch told CBS that he called his wife while “yelling in pain” in hospital, and told National Public Radio that he was in ICE custody. His home country has also drawn US commercial interest, with a US-led firm winning 100-year rights to 17 Venezuelan oilfields.
What did protesters and Austin’s mayor say?
Dozens of protesters gathered at the scene, some waving the flags of Mexico and Guatemala and carrying signs demanding that ICE leave Austin. Local television outlets showed demonstrators gathered across the street from a blue Toyota Corolla that had sustained damage to the passenger-side door, with ICE agents standing nearby, Reuters reported. Mayor Kirk Watson, a Democrat, told a media briefing that Austinites have a right to know what happened and “a right to feel safe in their city”, adding: “They should know the truth.” He said he was pleased the city would also be involved in the investigation, and that ICE operations had surged in Austin in recent weeks.
What are officials demanding?
Texas Congressman Greg Casar, a Democrat, demanded a full and immediate independent investigation into the shooting and the release of body camera footage. He also called for “accountability for any ICE officer who broke the law”. Democrats have pushed for reforms at the agency, including requiring immigration enforcement agents to wear body cameras and not conceal their faces.
How does this compare with earlier ICE shootings?
The Austin shooting came months after Houston resident Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was shot dead by an ICE officer. Salgado Araujo had not been a target of an ICE investigation but was shot during an ICE traffic stop, according to DHS. Earlier this month the US Department of Justice charged an ICE agent with lying about the non-fatal shooting of a Venezuelan migrant in Minnesota. US enforcement actions in the region have also drawn legal scrutiny after a UN report found that US boat strikes may amount to crimes against humanity.
What have Republicans said?
Florida lawmaker Maria Elvira Salazar, a Republican who has spoken out against the immigration crackdown, released an advert criticising the targeting and detaining of individuals who have no criminal record. On the CBS programme Face the Nation on Sunday, she said she had since spoken to the president and believed he would keep the country on the right track. “He gets it more than anybody,” she said.
Frequently asked questions
Who was shot by an ICE agent in Austin, Texas?
Wilber Rafael Garcés Perez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan DoorDash delivery driver, was shot in the torso by an ICE agent in Austin on Sunday. His lawyer says he was later moved from hospital to an ICE detention centre with a bullet still in his back.
Is the Austin ICE shooting being investigated?
The Department of Homeland Security said it is investigating the shooting of a man in Austin who entered the country illegally, and Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said the city would also be involved. Texas Congressman Greg Casar has demanded an independent investigation and the release of body camera footage.
What happened to Lorenzo Salgado Araujo?
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Houston resident, was shot dead by an ICE officer during a traffic stop, according to the Department of Homeland Security. He had not been a target of an ICE investigation.
With reporting from BBC News.
Stock image, not from the events described. City Skyline — Joe deSousa / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)
