ICE Agent Shoots Venezuelan DoorDash Driver in Austin, Sparking Protests and Outrage
A Venezuelan food delivery worker was shot and seriously injured by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Austin, Texas, on Sunday afternoon, according to his lawyer and local authorities. The man, identified as 28-year-old Wilber Rafael Garcés Perez, was delivering for DoorDash when the encounter occurred, his lawyer and the delivery platform confirmed to ABC News. He was shot in the torso and remains in federal custody while recovering in the hospital.
The shooting has ignited major protests in Austin, with demonstrators demanding answers and accountability. Local officials have also voiced backlash, and the Austin Police Department confirmed the incident. According to social media posts, Perez was shot twice in the back, though official details remain under investigation. The circumstances of the pursuit and the decision to shoot a man who survived but is still in federal custody are now central to the demands of protesters and advocates.
ICE has stated that it remains committed to accountability, and the Attorney’s Office is actively investigating what it calls “false statements” related to the case. The incident raises broader questions about the use of force by federal immigration agents and the treatment of undocumented individuals in the United States. As Perez recovers, the community continues to call for transparency and justice, highlighting the growing tension between immigration enforcement and public safety.
Shimanta Das 
