Venezuelan man shot by ICE in Texas is charged with assault

September 29, 2026

A 28-year-old Venezuelan man, Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, was shot in the back by an ICE officer during a traffic stop in Austin, Texas on September 20th and has now been charged with assaulting a federal officer. Authorities allege that during the stop, Garces Perez drove away and struck the officer with his car's side-view mirror before leading agents on a high-speed chase that ended when an ICE vehicle caused his car to spin out. The incident accounts differ, with Garces Perez claiming an ICE vehicle caused the initial collision while federal agents deny any contact occurred before he fled.

Who is affected

Wilber Rafael Garces Perez (28-year-old Venezuelan man shot and charged)
The ICE officer allegedly struck by the car's side-view mirror
Garces Perez's lawyers (who learned of his court appearance only after it occurred)
Residents in the commercial and residential areas where the high-speed chase took place

What action is being taken

Garces Perez is being prosecuted on one count of assaulting, resisting and impeding a federal officer
Medical care is being provided to Garces Perez (according to DHS statement about his treatment)
A temporary deportation block is in effect following a judge's order

Why it matters

This case highlights tensions surrounding immigration enforcement tactics under the Trump administration and raises questions about the use of force by ICE agents during routine traffic stops. The conflicting accounts of the incident—regarding whether initial contact occurred and the circumstances of the shooting—underscore concerns about accountability in immigration enforcement operations. The severity of the charges (up to 20 years imprisonment) against someone who was shot while fleeing, combined with his lawyers' lack of notification about court proceedings, raises due process concerns that have broader implications for how immigration enforcement intersects with criminal justice.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC