Judge Orlando L. Garcia has temporarily halted the deportation of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a Venezuelan man shot by an ICE officer in Austin, Texas, during an immigration enforcement stop on Sunday. The judge ordered Garces Perez to remain in Texas until further investigation and a Sept. 30 hearing can take place. Garces Perez’s attorney claims he was struck after being sideswiped by an ICE vehicle while making deliveries, whereas Austin police state the shooting occurred following a brief foot chase. DHS disputes some details of his medical care and legal status, asserting that Garces Perez entered the country illegally with an expired work permit. The Travis County District Attorney also requested that Garces Perez not be deported to avoid hindering their investigation into the incident.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-23,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the deportation of a Venezuelan man who was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Austin, Texas, ordering him to remain in the state while authorities investigate the shooting.
asserted
authorities → block → shooting
U.S. District Judge Orlando L. Garcia, a Clinton appointee, ordered that Wilber Rafael Garces Perez remain in Texas and appear in person for a Sept. 30 hearing.
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Perez → order → hearing
The order effectively prevents immigration officials from deporting him before the hearing.
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order → prevent → hearing
Garces Perez, 28, was shot Sunday during an attempted immigration enforcement stop while making DoorDash deliveries in Austin.
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Perez → shoot → Austin
His attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, said an ICE vehicle sideswiped his car before an officer shot Garces Perez in the upper back, just below the neck.
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officer → say → neck
Austin police, however, have said the shooting followed a brief foot pursuit.
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shooting → say → pursuit
The circumstances remain under investigation.
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circumstances → remain → investigation
Garces Perez was hospitalized for roughly four hours before being transferred into ICE custody at the South Texas ICE Processing Center in Pearsall, Texas, where he remained Tuesday.
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he → hospitalize → Pearsall
His attorney said the bullet was still lodged in his back and that he had also been treated for a suspected fractured collarbone.
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he → say → collarbone
Garces Perez was later taken back to a hospital after reporting numbness and paralysis on the left side of his body, according to his attorney.
uncertain
Perez → take → attorney
DHS released a fact sheet on Tuesday disputing claims about Garces Perez’s medical treatment and saying ICE does not determine whether a bullet should be surgically removed.
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bullet → release → treatment
The circumstances of Garces Perez’s immigration status are disputed.
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circumstances → dispute → status
DHS says he entered the country illegally, had an expired work permit, and was subject to a final order of removal.
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he → say → removal
His attorney said he entered legally through a Biden-era immigration program while holding a valid work permit.
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he → say → permit
She argued that Garces Perez missed an immigration hearing after notice was sent to an old address.
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notice → argue → address
“The immigration court sent a notice for a hearing to an old address,” Lincoln-Goldfinch said.
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Goldfinch → send → address
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended the federal government’s handling of the case and accused critics and the media of spreading false information about the shooting.
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Mullin → defend → shooting
“Sanctuary politicians and the mainstream media have wasted no time in spreading lies about an ICE officer-involved shooting of an illegal alien in Austin, Texas,” Mullin said.
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Mullin → waste → Austin
“Contrary to their claims, this person is an illegal alien who has no legal status to be here.”
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who → have → status
Mullin said the Trump administration would continue its immigration enforcement efforts and described Garces Perez as a target of immigration enforcement because of his immigration status.
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administration → say → status
The Travis County District Attorney’s Office separately asked DHS and ICE to halt Garces Perez’s removal while its investigation continues, arguing that deporting him could hinder the investigation or any potential prosecution.
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deporting → ask → investigation
“Mr. Garces Perez’s ability to participate as a material witness in the ongoing investigation or any future prosecution of this incident will be severely hindered if he is removed from the United States,” the office wrote.
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office → participate → States
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said investigators should allow evidence to determine what happened.
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what → say → evidence
“People will have strong feelings about what happened,” Davis said.
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Davis → have → feelings
“People will have questions — and they should — but in determining what happened in this particular incident, we have to allow evidence, and not rumor, speculation or incomplete information, guide us.
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evidence → have → us
The shooting is being investigated by DHS’s Homeland Security Investigations unit with FBI assistance, while Austin police and the Texas Rangers are also investigating.
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police → investigate → assistance
The Aporia
