One of the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights organizations has urged against the deportation of a Venezuelan immigrant involved in an ICE-related shooting in Austin. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) argued that Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, who was injured in the incident, is a crucial witness in the investigation of ICE officers’ use of force.
LULAC spoke out following the shooting at a traffic stop where Garces Perez suffered a gunshot wound. He was hospitalized and remains in serious but stable condition. The event led to protests in Austin and demands from local officials for an independent investigation into the matter.
Wilber is a victim of the shooting and the most important witness to it. You do not deport the key witness to your own officers’ use of force,said LULAC CEO Juan Peruano.
The attorney representing Garces Perez, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, stated that Garces Perez was delivering for DoorDash when an unmarked vehicle, operated by ICE, sideswiped him. Unaware of the truck’s affiliation, Garces Perez made a U-turn, prompting a continued pursuit by the agents.
Lincoln-Goldfinch explained, The truck chased him and sideswiped him again. And the agents came out and shot him in the back of the neck and pulled him out of the car. She added that Garces Perez did not receive adequate emergency medical treatment as the bullet remained inside his body for hours after the shooting.
Further criticizing ICE, Lincoln-Goldfinch noted, There is absolutely zero justification for having shot him in the back of the neck. And this is why we’re calling for a stop to ICE traffic stops. ICE officers are over armed, overpaid, under trained and violent. They don’t know how to safely conduct traffic stops.
Garces Perez, who entered the U.S. in 2024 under the expanded CBP One app, had a work permit and was seeking asylum. His attorney revealed that he received a removal order due to a hearing notice sent to a previous address, despite updating his address with the immigration court.
He changed his address with the immigration court, and a notice of hearing was sent to his old address. He didn’t know he had a hearing. He didn’t go. And so he got a deportation order in absentia, which is a very common thing, she stated, citing a common issue with court notices.
She criticized ICE’s narrative of the events, claiming inaccuracies in their reports.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett also shared skepticism over the reliability of federal immigration officials’ statements, asserting a lack of credibility.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed to Fox News that Garces Perez is regarded as an illegal immigrant from Venezuela with a deportation order. They stated he was shot during an enforcement action and remains in custody, pending removal.
Bonny Chu contributed reporting for Fox News Digital.
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