# ICE Officer Shoots DoorDash Driver; Bullet Left Lodged Near Spine

- URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/ice-officer-shoots-doordash-driver-bullet-left-lodged-near-spine
- Published: 2026-09-22T07:14:50.961830+00:00
- Topics: ice, immigration, police-shooting, austin, use-of-force

## What the left says
- Garcés Pérez was taken from the hospital into ICE custody within about four hours while a bullet remained lodged near his spine, raising serious concerns about denial of adequate medical care.
- His attorney and advocates argue he is the key witness to the officer's use of force and should not be deported before an independent investigation is completed.
- He reports being held in a cold room, sleeping on the floor, and receiving no pain medication until a full day after the shooting.
- Local officials and lawmakers are demanding release of bodycam footage and an independent probe, reflecting distrust that ICE can fairly investigate its own officer's conduct.

## What the right says
- DHS confirms the man shot is an unauthorized immigrant from Venezuela who entered the country illegally under the Biden administration and already had a final order of removal.
- The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave, and Homeland Security Investigations is leading a formal probe with FBI assistance, consistent with standard procedure.
- DHS states the man was in stable condition and lawfully in federal custody pending removal, indicating the agency followed normal post-incident protocols.
- Angry crowds gathered at the scene and clashed with authorities, underscoring the volatile environment ICE officers operate in during enforcement actions.

## Common ground
- Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan national, was shot by an ICE officer on Sunday while delivering food for DoorDash in Austin.
- A bullet remains lodged near his spine and was not removed before he was transferred from the hospital to a detention center in Pearsall, Texas.
- DHS's Homeland Security Investigations unit, with FBI assistance, is leading the investigation into the shooting.
- Austin police were not involved in the shooting, and local officials have called for transparency, including release of bodycam footage.

## Sources
- [AllSides](https://www.allsides.com/news/2026-09-21-0700/immigration-ice-shooting-rocks-austin-democrat-demands-bodycam-video-independent-probe) (Center)
- [AllSides](https://www.allsides.com/news/2026-09-21-0700/immigration-who-wilber-rafael-garces-perez-doordash-worker-shot-ice-austin) (Center)
- [AllSides](https://www.allsides.com/news/2026-09-21-0700/immigration-texas-man-shot-ice-agent-speaks-his-condition-detention-center) (Center)
- [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wilber-rafael-garces-perez-ice-shooting-austin-detention/) (Lean Left)
- [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/video/man-shot-ice-custody-bullet-lodged-near-spine-lawyer-says/) (Lean Left)
- [NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/ice-officer-shoots-delivery-driver-in-texas-270255173738) (Lean Left)
- [NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/venezuelan-man-shot-ice-texas-says-s-pain-still-bullet-back-rcna598999) (Lean Left)
- [New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/21/us/ice-shooting-austin-texas.html) (Lean Left)
- [The Guardian US](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/21/ice-shooting-austin-texas-venezuelan-man) (Left)
- [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/6102194-austin-officials-condemn-ice-shooting-of-venezuelan-man-call-for-independent-investigation/) (Center)
- [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/6101210-dhs-investigating-ice-shooting-austin/) (Center)
- [The Hill](https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/6100961-ice-officer-shoots-austin-man/) (Center)
- [Washington Times](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/21/venezuelan-man-shot-ice-officer-detained-texas-bullet-still-back/) (Right)

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