ICE Officer’s Shooting of Venezuelan Driver Without Body Camera Raises Concerns

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer involved in the shooting of a Venezuelan delivery driver in Austin, Texas, was not wearing a body camera, according to sources close to the investigation. The incident occurred on Sunday when ICE officer shot Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, aged 28, in the upper torso. Garces Perez, working for DoorDash at the time, reportedly has a deportation order, noted by federal officials.

This shooting incident has added fuel to the ongoing protests in Texas demanding accountability and transparency, especially since it’s part of federal agents’ efforts to enforce President Trump’s immigration crackdowns. The absence of body camera footage is a critical concern highlighted by The Atlantic and is likely to increase skepticism over the incident.

In a previous statement, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin assured that all ICE officers would be equipped with body cameras by the end of September, suggesting that progress towards this goal was close. The lack of immediate response from the Department of Homeland Security about the body camera issue has left many questions unanswered.

Controversy surrounds Garces Perez’s condition following the shooting. Initially hospitalized, he was later taken into ICE custody, with accusations of being in the U.S. illegally under a final deportation order. Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro reported a return to the hospital on Monday for Garces Perez due to numbness on his left side and the belief that the bullet was still in his back.

Reportedly, on Tuesday, Garces Perez returned to ICE’s South Texas Detention Complex. While scheduled for a visit by Castro the next day, Garces Perez’s attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, expressed concerns on social media about his treatment, stating he was isolated and denied critical communication tools.

To contest his custody, Lincoln-Goldfinch filed a habeas petition arguing for Garces Perez’s release on constitutional grounds. U.S. District Court Judge Orlando Garcia has since mandated an in-person hearing for the habeas claim on September 30, temporarily preventing Garces Perez’s deportation until this hearing concludes.