US Congressman Demands Urgent Surgery and Release for Venezuelan Shot by ICE
- Texas Democratic Representative Greg Casar announced that detained Venezuelan national Wilber Garcés requires urgent surgery to remove a bullet lodged in his body following a September 20 shooting...
- Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez sustained a gunshot wound to the back on Sept.
- Casar reported acute pain and sleep deprivation experienced by Garcés since the shooting.
Texas Democratic Representative Greg Casar announced that detained Venezuelan national Wilber Garcés requires urgent surgery to remove a bullet lodged in his body following a September 20 shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. During a visit to the detention facility, Casar stated that specialists have determined the 28-year-old needs an operation. Legal representatives reported that facility officials restricted the detainee’s communication after he sought to speak with journalists.
Medical Urgency at Pearsall Detention Center
The Austin Enforcement Operation and Hospital Transfers
Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez sustained a gunshot wound to the back on Sept. 20 during an enforcement operation in Austin, Texas, involving an ICE agent. Within 48 hours of the shooting, Garcés was moved between a hospital and the Pearsall detention center before returning to a medical facility. According to legislative visits, Garcés spent the initial hours following the incident unaware that a bullet remained lodged inside him.
Severe Pain and Physical Examination Findings
Casar reported acute pain and sleep deprivation experienced by Garcés since the shooting.
She told me that she had finally received an injection of a painkiller just one hour before I arrived.
, stated the congressman regarding pain management delays.
During the inspection of the detention center, Casar observed significant blood accumulation and noted that facility medical staff cleaned the wound two to three times daily. Additional bruising on the back and neck indicated the bullet’s trajectory.
External Specialist Evaluation and Congressional Demands
Medical evaluation during the congressional visit marked the first time an external specialist examined Garcés to assess the retained projectile.
It’s a surgery that we know carries risks, but it’s necessary. ICE must guarantee her access to this surgery and take her health very seriously.
, stated the representative, emphasizing that the procedure carries inherent risks but remains mandatory.
Casar also highlighted a separate fatality involving an ICE detention center inmate in Louisiana two days prior to the Austin shooting, noting that the agency has not released details regarding that death.
Legal Retaliation Allegations and Demands for Release
Legal representation for Garcés alleged punitive actions by detention facility staff. According to the defense counsel, officials revoked the detainee’s access to digital communication tablets and barred family contact as retaliation after Garcés expressed a desire to speak with the press. Casar publicly demanded the immediate release and hospitalization of Garcés, asserting that the detainee requires specialized medical care rather than deportation proceedings.