The Department of Homeland Security is defending its immigration enforcement operations in a series of social media posts following the shooting of a DoorDash driver in Texas.
The department posted that Immigration and Customs Enforcement
would not be slowing down operations in the Lone Star State in a Sept. 22 X post, while sharing a story about protests in Austin — where an ICE agent shot and wounded Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, 28, from Venezuela."Our mission is to administer the laws passed by Congress — we do not pick and choose which laws to enforce or where we enforce them," DHS said in the post.
In a separate post, DHS listed arrests of other migrants, along with mugshots, adding that it would "never apologize" for arresting and removing
migrants who "should have never been in America in the first place."
Protests erupted in Texas' capital city on Sept. 20 after the Venezuelan immigrant was shot. Initial reports from Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis cited a small foot pursuit as a factor in the shooting; however, Garcés Pérez maintained that there was never a foot chase.
According to Garcés Pérez's attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, he was released from the hospital straight into ICE custody, with no pain medication.
She has also told reporters he entered the United States in 2024 through the Biden-era CBP One app, had a work permit and was seeking asylum, but received a deportation order in absentia after a hearing notice was sent to the wrong address.
DHS said that Garcés Pérez's work permit expired in 2025 and clarified that a work permit does not grant legal status.
DHS claims ICE has 'higher detention standards' than American prisons
DHS has disputed claims made by Lincoln-Goldfinch about his treatment and responded on X to a news conference held by Rep. Greg Casar, who claimed that Garcés Pérez was in ICE detention with a bullet still in his body.
"This is a shameless fabrication from Rep. Casar," DHS said, adding that Garcés Pérez is "receiving around-the-clock medical care, including pain medications."
"ICE has higher detention standards than most American prisons that hold actual American citizens," the post said.
Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@gannett.com, @NatassiaPaloma on X, natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'We will never apologize' DHS defends ICE operations in Texas
