A US federal judge has issued a temporary block on the deportation of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan man who was shot by immigration agents during a traffic stop in Texas. Garces Perez, who worked as a DoorDash delivery driver, is currently being held in a detention facility with a bullet lodged near his back and a fractured collarbone.
Judge Orlando Garcia has scheduled an in-person hearing for September 30, meaning Garces Perez cannot be removed from the country before then. His attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, said she filed the lawsuit to secure a restraining order while the case proceeds, calling it “an important step” but stressing that the fight to secure her client proper medical treatment continues.
The Department of Homeland Security disputed claims that Garces Perez received inadequate care, saying he has gotten round-the-clock medical attention and pushing back on what officials called “false narratives” about the incident. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the man had no legal status in the country and that his work permit had lapsed last year.
Body camera and dashcam footage released by local police show officers detaining Garces Perez and cutting his shirt to reveal what appears to be a gunshot wound, though the shooting itself was not captured on video. His lawyer says he was later shackled and moved to an isolated cell despite his injuries.
For the full story and video footage, read the original report from the BBC.
Source: US judge blocks deportation of DoorDash driver shot by ICE (feeds.bbci.co.uk).
Image: U.S. Army photo by Spc. Elijah Campbell.