Venezuelan man shot by ICE in Texas is charged with assault

A Venezuelan man shot in the back by a US immigration agent in Texas has been charged with assault, accused of sideswiping the officer with his car as he tried to drive away.

Wilber Rafael Garces Perez's side-view mirror hit the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer during the traffic stop on 20 September in the city of Austin, it is alleged.

The 28-year-old faces one count of assaulting, resisting and impeding a federal officer. He could face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.

Garces Perez appeared in court on Tuesday. His lawyers said they only learned of his court appearance afterwards.

According to the justice department, the traffic stop was initiated by an ICE officer after confirming through a database that the blue Toyota sedan was registered to Garces Perez, who had been issued a final order of removal from the US.

The affidavit contains a conflicting account of the incident.

According to the court filing, Garces Perez said a law enforcement SUV had "caused a collision" with his car by pulling an abrupt manouevre during the traffic stop.

But the federal agents said there was "no contact" between their SUVs and Garces Perez's car when they first pulled him over.

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