Lack of Body Camera in ICE Shooting Raises Concerns

An ICE officer shot Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan delivery driver, in Austin, Texas, on Sunday. During the incident, the officer was not wearing a body camera, according to sources familiar with the investigation.

Garces Perez was working for DoorDash when he was shot in the upper torso by the ICE officer, as stated by local authorities and his attorney. The incident occurred in the context of federal agents enforcing stricter immigration policies.

This shooting has heightened calls for accountability and a transparent investigation. The absence of body camera footage, first reported by The Atlantic, is a significant concern.

On September 20, 2026, protests erupted in Austin, Texas, in response to the shooting. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin had previously announced that all ICE officers would be equipped with body cameras by the end of September. He expressed confidence in achieving this goal during a press conference in New York.

Representatives from the Department of Homeland Security have not yet commented on the officer’s lack of a body camera. Meanwhile, Garces Perez’s medical condition remains controversial. He was hospitalized after the shooting and then taken into ICE custody, as authorities allege he has a deportation order.

Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas revealed Garces Perez was returned to the hospital on Monday due to numbness on the left side of his body, fearing a bullet might remain lodged in his back. On Tuesday, Castro reported Garces Perez had been moved to ICE’s South Texas Detention Complex in Pearsall.

Attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch highlighted Garces Perez’s limited medical care, stating that he receives only Tylenol and ibuprofen for pain while in isolation. She also noted his lack of access to a communication device.

Lincoln-Goldfinch filed a habeas petition for Garces Perez’s release on constitutional grounds. U.S. District Court Judge Orlando Garcia ordered a hearing on this matter next Wednesday, temporarily preventing Garces Perez’s deportation until then.