A Venezuelan immigrant, Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, who was shot in the back by an ICE agent during a 20 September traffic stop in Austin, is charged with assaulting, resisting and impeding a federal officer. Prosecutors allege he attempted to drive away, striking the officer with his vehicle’s side-view mirror and leading to a high-speed chase that ended when a federal SUV caused his car to spin; an agent then fired into his car. Garces Perez, who entered the US in 2024 under CBP One and has a final removal order, faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted. The case features conflicting accounts from Garces Perez and federal agents about initial contact and pursuit, and a court has temporarily blocked his deportation. The incident underscores ongoing tensions around ICE enforcement and immigration policy.
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Garces Perez, 28, is charged with one count of assaulting, resisting and impeding a federal officer in connection with the 20 September traffic stop in Austin, Texas.
Authorities say he drove away during a traffic stop after the officer confirmed the blue Toyota sedan belonged to him and that he had a final removal order; his side-view mirror allegedly struck the officer as he attempted to escape.
The affidavit presents contrasting narratives: Garces Perez says an SUV caused a collision during the stop, while agents say there was no contact initially; he acknowledges declining to exit the car and then drove off.
A high-speed pursuit followed, ending when a federal agent’s SUV struck Garces Perez’s car, causing it to spin; an agent fired into the back window, injuring him in the upper back.
DHS notes Garces Perez has received what was described as exceptional medical care since the shooting; a judge temporarily halted his deportation the prior week.
Garces Perez had entered the US in 2024 via CBP One, an asylum program later canceled, amid broader immigration policy debates and enforcement actions.