ICE Agents Shoot Pastor with Pepper Ball During Protest in Texas
EL PASO, TX – Video footage circulating online shows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents firing a pepper ball at a pastor protesting outside an ICE detention facility in El Paso, Texas, on october 6, 2024. The incident, captured by multiple witnesses and livestreamed on social media, has sparked outrage from civil rights groups and calls for an investigation into the use of force by federal agents.
The shooting underscores escalating tensions at the border as immigration remains a central issue in the upcoming 2024 elections. The pastor, identified as Rev.Daniel Garcia of the El Paso Faith Coalition,was leading a peaceful demonstration against the conditions within the detention center and advocating for the release of asylum seekers. The incident raises critical questions about the appropriate response to protests and the accountability of ICE agents, notably as concerns grow over increasingly aggressive tactics employed at the border.
According to witnesses, Rev. Garcia was addressing the crowd from a public sidewalk when an ICE agent positioned on the roof of the detention facility discharged a pepper ball, striking the pastor in the face. The video shows Rev. Garcia promptly collapsing and being attended to by fellow protesters. He was treated on-site by paramedics for respiratory distress and later transported to a local hospital. His condition is currently stable.
“We were peacefully protesting, exercising our first Amendment rights, when an ICE agent just opened fire,” stated Maria Hernandez, a protest organizer. “It was completely unprovoked. Rev. Garcia was simply speaking, and they targeted him.”
ICE has confirmed that its agents were present at the scene but has not yet released a detailed statement regarding the incident. A spokesperson stated that the agency is “reviewing the events” and will “cooperate fully with any investigation.”
The El Paso Faith Coalition has announced plans to hold a press conference on October 7, 2024, demanding a thorough investigation and accountability for the agent involved. Civil rights organizations, including the ACLU of Texas, have condemned the use of force and called for increased clarity and oversight of ICE operations.
This incident occurs amidst a broader national debate over immigration policy and the treatment of migrants at the border. The 2024 presidential election is expected to heavily feature immigration as a key issue, and events like this are likely to further fuel the debate. The Department of Homeland Security has not yet commented on the incident.
