Press Contact: media@hispanicfederation.org
Washington, D.C. — Wilber Garcés Pérez was delivering food for DoorDash in Austin, Texas, this week when an ICE officer opened fire on him. He is the latest victim in a growing pattern of shootings by immigration agents, with no body camera footage and no accountability. Below is a response from Jessica Orozco Guttlein, Senior Vice President of Policy and Communications at Hispanic Federation.
“Our thoughts are with Wilber Garcés Pérez, a 28-year-old who was shot by an ICE officer during a traffic stop while delivering food in his community. We stand with the Austin community in demanding answers. It is deeply troubling to learn that not only was the officer a recent recruit, but he was not wearing his issued body camera. Hispanic Federation calls for Mr. Garcés Pérez to be released from detention and have any removal proceedings against him halted to ensure his cooperation in the ongoing investigation regarding this horrific incident.
This recent shooting is part of a dangerous pattern: federal agents commit an act of violence, the community demands accountability, and the lack of record keeping leaves very few options to prevent the next violent incident. One person shot by ICE officers is too many, but the growing frequency of these shootings makes it clear that ICE simply cannot regulate itself or provide the necessary oversight.
This is not an isolated incident. From St. Paul, Minnesota to Los Angeles, California, Hispanic Federation has hosted People’s Hearings where community members have described the egregious harm done to communities across the country by federal immigration agents. In each incident, the federal agencies have downplayed the damage and avoided even basic accountability.
We have repeatedly warned that expanding DHS funding without guardrails or oversight would cost injuries and lives, and that is what we continue to see. ICE has received billions of dollars yet still fails to follow proper law enforcement protocol or hold its officers accountable. This is a campaign of terror, and we demand permanent safeguards. Latino families should not have to dread that a drive to work could end in gunfire, with no one held accountable. Hispanic Federation stands with Mr. Garcés Pérez, his family, and every community living under this climate of fear.”
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About Hispanic Federation
Hispanic Federation (HF) is a nonprofit membership and advocacy organization, founded in 1990, committed to empowering and advancing the Hispanic community, with a focus on low-income, marginalized, and immigrant Latine. With programs in 43 states and territories, HF’s focus areas include immigration, economic empowerment, civic engagement, disaster relief, philanthropy, education, health, and the environment. HF also maintains ongoing public education campaigns and meets the organizational development needs of its member agencies through grant-making and capacity-building assistance.
