A man from Mexico, Miguel Angel Garcia Hernandez, 31, was shot and killed last week at a Dallas ICE facility. His wife, who is heavily pregnant, expresses deep concern about their child’s future without him.
Garcia Hernandez was one of three individuals shot in an ICE transport van when sniper Joshua Jaan opened fire, as reported by NBC DFW.
Currently, he is on life support at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas after suffering serious injuries in the incident last Wednesday.
Alongside him, Nolan Guzman Fuentes, a 37-year-old detainee from El Salvador, was killed, and Jose Andre Baudones Molina from Venezuela was injured, according to a Dallas County Medical Examiner.
All three were referred to as “illegal criminal aliens” in a statement from ICE, which confirmed the identities involved.
Garcia Hernandez was undocumented and worked as a house painter. He was detained after being arrested for driving under the influence on August 8, leaving his wife, Stephanie Gofeny, worried about him not seeing their unborn child.
“It hurts to wonder what would happen if he didn’t even see him,” she reflected.
Gofeny is pregnant with their fifth child. She shared that when she first arrived at the hospital, her husband was restrained, unable to move.
A U.S. citizen, Gofeney was pursuing permanent residency for her husband when she herself was detained.
The couple has known each other since they were 15, started dating at 19, and have been married for a decade. They have four children together, aged 3, 8, 12, and 14.
“He’s really missed by them,” she shared, indicating how much they are affected by his absence.
Gofeny emphasized her desire for people to recognize Garcia Hernandez as more than just an immigrant or detainee, stating, “I want him to know his name.” To help with financial support for the family, a GoFundMe has been set up to assist with groceries and bills.
