• Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a Venezuelan delivery driver, was shot by ICE agents during an arrest attempt.
• He faces assault charges after allegedly striking an officer with his car’s mirror.
• Garces Perez could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan delivery driver, has been charged with assault after he was shot in the back by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer on September 20 in Austin, Texas. Prosecutors allege that Garces Perez sideswiped an officer with his vehicle as he attempted to flee, leading to his shooting, according to Los Angeles Times, CBS News, and BBC.

Garces Perez faces one count of assaulting, resisting, and impeding a federal officer, which could result in a prison sentence of up to 20 years if convicted. The federal complaint alleges that during a traffic stop, he provided his driver's license but failed to obey commands to exit the vehicle before closing the window and driving away, striking an officer identified in the documents as L.G. with his car's side mirror, according to India Times and Reuters.

The incident reportedly escalated when Garces Perez attempted to drive into an officer, leading to the officer firing his weapon, as outlined in an affidavit. Court documents indicate a conflicting narrative, with Garces Perez claiming he was shot after a law enforcement vehicle hit his car during a chase, as discussed in reports from Al Jazeera and India Times.

Garces Perez entered the U.S. in 2024 through the CBP One program designed for asylum seekers, which has been the subject of political controversy after its cancellation by former President Donald Trump. His legal team is currently working to prevent his removal from the country while he remains in a detention facility recovering from his injuries, as noted by Reuters and Los Angeles Times.