Venezuelan man shot by ICE agent in Texas charged with assaulting an officer
Garcés Pérez, who was shot in his car by agents, is accused of striking officer with side mirror while trying to drive away
TL;DR
- Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan, has been charged with assaulting, resisting, and impeding a federal officer.
- Prosecutors allege Garcés Pérez struck an immigration agent with his car's side mirror while attempting to flee.
- Garcés Pérez was shot in the back by an agent during the incident in Austin, Texas.
- His attorneys state his account of the events differs from the government's, claiming an SUV struck his car before the shooting.
- Garcés Pérez had an order of removal from the US and had entered through the CBP One asylum program.
- The shooting occurred amid increased ICE enforcement under the Trump administration.
- Previous cases have seen charges against individuals shot by immigration officers dropped or undermined.
- Garcés Pérez faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.