A federal judge has temporarily blocked the deportation of a Venezuelan man who was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Austin, Texas, ordering him to remain in the state while authorities investigate the shooting.
asserted
authorities → block → shooting
U.S. District Judge Orlando L. Garcia, a Clinton appointee, ordered that Wilber Rafael Garces Perez remain in Texas and appear in person for a Sept. 30 hearing.
asserted
Perez → order → hearing
The order effectively prevents immigration officials from deporting him before the hearing.
asserted
order → prevent → hearing
Garces Perez, 28, was shot Sunday during an attempted immigration enforcement stop while making DoorDash deliveries in Austin.
asserted
Perez → shoot → Austin
His attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, said an ICE vehicle sideswiped his car before an officer shot Garces Perez in the upper back, just below the neck.
asserted
officer → say → neck
Austin police, however, have said the shooting followed a brief foot pursuit.
asserted
shooting → say → pursuit
The circumstances remain under investigation.
asserted
circumstances → remain → investigation
Garces Perez was hospitalized for roughly four hours before being transferred into ICE custody at the South Texas ICE Processing Center in Pearsall, Texas, where he remained Tuesday.
asserted
he → hospitalize → Pearsall
His attorney said the bullet was still lodged in his back and that he had also been treated for a suspected fractured collarbone.
asserted
he → say → collarbone
Garces Perez was later taken back to a hospital after reporting numbness and paralysis on the left side of his body, according to his attorney.
uncertain
Perez → take → attorney
DHS released a fact sheet on Tuesday disputing claims about Garces Perez’s medical treatment and saying ICE does not determine whether a bullet should be surgically removed.
uncertain
bullet → release → treatment
The circumstances of Garces Perez’s immigration status are disputed.
asserted
circumstances → dispute → status
DHS says he entered the country illegally, had an expired work permit, and was subject to a final order of removal.
asserted
he → say → removal
His attorney said he entered legally through a Biden-era immigration program while holding a valid work permit.
asserted
he → say → permit
She argued that Garces Perez missed an immigration hearing after notice was sent to an old address.
asserted
notice → argue → address
“The immigration court sent a notice for a hearing to an old address,” Lincoln-Goldfinch said.
asserted
Goldfinch → send → address
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended the federal government’s handling of the case and accused critics and the media of spreading false information about the shooting.
asserted
Mullin → defend → shooting
“Sanctuary politicians and the mainstream media have wasted no time in spreading lies about an ICE officer-involved shooting of an illegal alien in Austin, Texas,” Mullin said.
asserted
Mullin → waste → Austin
“Contrary to their claims, this person is an illegal alien who has no legal status to be here.”
uncertain
who → have → status
Mullin said the Trump administration would continue its immigration enforcement efforts and described Garces Perez as a target of immigration enforcement because of his immigration status.
asserted
administration → say → status
The Travis County District Attorney’s Office separately asked DHS and ICE to halt Garces Perez’s removal while its investigation continues, arguing that deporting him could hinder the investigation or any potential prosecution.
uncertain
deporting → ask → investigation
“Mr. Garces Perez’s ability to participate as a material witness in the ongoing investigation or any future prosecution of this incident will be severely hindered if he is removed from the United States,” the office wrote.
asserted
office → participate → States
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said investigators should allow evidence to determine what happened.
asserted
what → say → evidence
“People will have strong feelings about what happened,” Davis said.
asserted
Davis → have → feelings
“People will have questions — and they should — but in determining what happened in this particular incident, we have to allow evidence, and not rumor, speculation or incomplete information, guide us.
asserted
evidence → have → us
The shooting is being investigated by DHS’s Homeland Security Investigations unit with FBI assistance, while Austin police and the Texas Rangers are also investigating.
asserted
police → investigate → assistance
The Aporia
