Texas Judge Temporarily Blocks Deportation of Venezuelan Asylum Seeker With Bullet Lodged in His Back
A federal judge has issued a temporary order halting the deportation of a 28-year-old Venezuelan asylum seeker who was shot by immigration agents in Texas, granting him a reprieve while he remains in detention with a bullet still lodged in his back, according to his lawyer. The man, identified as Garces Perez, was shot during an encounter with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in September. His attorney, Lincoln-Goldfinch, announced the temporary block on social media, stating, “For now, we have secured a temporary block on his deportation while his case moves forward. This is an important step, but our work is not over.”nnThe circumstances of the shooting remain disputed. According to Lincoln-Goldfinch, the gunshot fractured Garces Perez’s clavicle, leaving him in a sling with significant swelling and pain. She said she spoke by phone with Perez, who told her he was being interrogated while a bullet remained in his back. However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) disputes key elements of the account, including how the September incident unfolded. DHS claims his work authorization expired in 2025, that he does not have a protected immigration status, and that he remains subject to a final removal order. A DHS spokesperson, Mullin, defended ICE’s actions, saying, “No amount of smears and false narratives will slow down ICE from doing its job by removing dangerous illegal aliens from our communities and making America safe again.” Mullin also accused mainstream media, “far-left activists,” and sanctuary politicians of spreading falsehoods about the incident.nnThe case has drawn attention amid broader concerns about freedom of the press and democratic values. As groups continue to spotlight voices striving to protect First Amendment rights, the legal battle over Garces Perez’s deportation highlights the tensions between immigration enforcement and humanitarian considerations. His attorneys argue that his medical condition and pending asylum case warrant a stay, while the government maintains that he is subject to removal. The temporary block provides a crucial window for further legal proceedings, but the outcome remains uncertain. “This is an important step, but our work is not over,” Lincoln-Goldfinch reiterated, underscoring
Shimanta Das 
