National Police Accountability Project Calls for End to ICE Community Arrests
Yesterday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) attempted another extrajudicial execution on U.S. streets, ramming into the car of DoorDash driver Wilber Rafael Garces Perez and then shooting him, simply to enforce civil immigration laws.
Said Lauren Bonds, Executive Director of the National Police Accountability Project, “Whether it’s Austin, Houston, or Biddeford, Maine, ICE agents are starting car chases and firing into vehicles. Law enforcement should never take these actions, but especially not to enforce civil immigration laws. Fortunately Mr. Garces Perez survived, but he could have been killed. This has become a nationwide crisis that puts everyone at risk. Congress must step in immediately and take control.”
Bonds continued, “ICE enforces civil laws, and deportation orders issued by civil immigration courts. The idea that chasing someone through the streets of a community, and shooting them, to enforce a paperwork issue is absurd. And, it makes our entire community less safe. Congress needs to take ICE’s guns and turn them into a regular civil enforcement agency, like the IRS. That’s the only way to make these shootings and killings stop.”
After Mr. Garces Perez was shot, news reports indicate he was taken to the hospital and discharged a couple hours later. For 24 hours, neither his attorney nor his wife were told how he was doing or even where he was. According to Attorney Lincoln-Goldfinch, speaking at a press conference on September 21, the bullet remains lodged in his body.
“We demand an independent investigation into the shooting of Mr. Garces Perez, including a stop to his deportation and access to crime victim protections under the law, as well as full accountability for the ICE officers and leadership involved,” said Bonds.
“Austin is in pain and still seeking answers and accountability over the death of Anthoniell Williams II at the hands of Austin police. Mr. Garces Perez’ shooting was carried out by federal agents, but there’s a throughline that we cannot ignore — a law enforcement system that sees Black and brown people’s lives as expendable,” she said. “The way Austin police handle the investigation into Mr. Garces Perez’ shooting is under a spotlight. We can’t trust the Trump administration to investigate the shooting, or treat Mr. Garces Perez with dignity. They are in a rush to deport him so he can’t tell anyone what happened. At this moment, we need local law enforcement to investigate this crime with transparency and thoroughness and show that they are on the community’s side.”
From October 8 to 9, NPAP is holding a two-day intensive training in Austin (and virtually), to teach lawyers and legal workers how to bring civil rights cases against state and federal law enforcement. Learn more about the training here.
The National Police Accountability Project (NPAP) is a nonprofit dedicated to ending law enforcement overreach and abuse of power. NPAP provides critical support to a national network of over 500 civil rights attorneys, litigating cases against police departments, jails, and prisons to hold public officials accountable for misconduct.