A US judge has temporarily blocked the deportation of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a 28‑year‑old Venezuelan DoorDash driver who was shot in the back by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials during a vehicle stop while being transported to a detention centre in Texas.
Garces Perez is currently held at a Texas detention facility, where he carries a spinal injury that has left him in pain and with restricted movement, according to his lawyer, Kate Lincoln‑Goldfinch.
Judge Orlando Garcia, appointed by the Clinton administration, ordered that the case be heard in person on September 30, preventing any removal of the driver while the legal fight continues.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has denied claims of inadequate medical care, stating that the victim remains under constant medical supervision, while the incident sparked protests in Austin and calls for a federal investigation.
Here is a photo of Garces Perez after the shooting.
