Man shot by ICE in Texas undergoes surgery to remove bullet from back
Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan delivery driver, underwent surgery Thursday to remove a bullet that supporters said had been lodged in his back near his spine for nearly two weeks. He remains in federal custody in Texas while facing an allegation that he assaulted an officer while trying to evade arrest.
Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez underwent surgery Thursday to remove a bullet from his back, according to the supplied report. The 28-year-old Venezuelan delivery driver was shot and wounded by a federal immigration agent in Texas last month.
Supporters said the bullet had remained lodged near Garcés Pérez’s spine for nearly two weeks before the operation. The source does not provide further details about the surgery or his medical condition.
Garcés Pérez remains in custody. He appeared in court on Wednesday in a wheelchair and was wearing a sling on his arm.
He faces charges alleging that he assaulted an officer while trying to evade arrest. The supplied information does not include his account of the shooting, the immigration agency’s response, or details about the circumstances of the arrest.
THE QUESTIONS THIS EVENT LEAVES BEHIND
What circumstances led to the shooting during the attempted arrest?
What evidence supports the allegation that he assaulted an officer?
Why did the bullet remain in his back for nearly two weeks before surgery?
How might his continued custody affect his medical recovery and legal defense?
What oversight will examine the federal agent’s use of force?
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GLOBAL CURIOSITY MAP · SEPTEMBER 2026