Injured Migrant During ICE Operation in Austin Claims He Still Has Bullet Lodged in His Back
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
A Venezuelan migrant who was injured during an immigration operation in Austin claims he still has a bullet lodged in his back and is currently in federal custody at an ICE detention center in Pearsall, Texas. During a press conference organized by community groups and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez recounted the events of last Sunday by phone and described the conditions he says he is facing while recovering from his injuries. According to his testimony, doctors decided not to remove the projectile due to its proximity to the spinal cord, as the procedure would pose a high risk. He also stated that after being transferred to the Pearsall detention center, he was placed in a 'very cold room without a proper bed' during his recovery. 'I am not doing well due to the gunshot wound and I have not received the medical attention I need,' Pérez said over the phone while a member of his legal team's staff translated during the press conference. Garcés Pérez claimed he was driving in the area when an SUV matched his vehicle. Initially, he thought it was an aggressive driver and attempted to make a U-turn to stop in a parking lot. However, he asserted that the vehicle struck him and that he was subsequently shot at. He also claimed that authorities did not order him to stop before the incident and that the patrol lights were activated only after the collision. He is unsure how many shots he received, only confirming one gunshot wound in his back. Local activists, civil rights leaders, and two Democratic congress members representing parts of Austin called during the press conference for the creation of an independent body to review incidents of force used by ICE and refer alleged crimes to prosecutors. During the press conference, LULAC representatives stated that 'no one is above the law' and noted that this would be the third recorded case in Texas where a person was injured by gunfire during immigration operations. The organization and Garcés Pérez's legal team indicated they have heard different accounts of what happened. While the Austin Police Chief mentioned the possibility of a foot chase, they noted that the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has a different version of events. The defense asserted that there is evidence that could contradict the account of an alleged foot chase and demanded the release of body camera footage from the involved officers, as well as a detailed explanation of the circumstances that led to the shooting. Meanwhile, a senior administration official told NBC News that Garcés Pérez had no criminal record. However, he indicated that he was in the country illegally and had a final deportation order. In a statement, federal authorities reported that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with support from the FBI, is leading the investigation into the incident. The agency noted that the Venezuelan migrant was injured by gunfire during an operation in Austin, that he remains stable, and that he continues to be in federal custody while his deportation process unfolds. Telemundo San Antonio reached out to ICE for reactions regarding the Venezuelan migrant's allegations, but no response has been received so far.
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
