Stephany Gauffeny recounts her experience on Sept. 27 regarding her husband Miguel Angel Garcia-Hernandez, who was critically wounded during the Sept. 24 shooting at a Dallas ICE detention center.
Sergio Martínez-Beltrán/NPR
In Dallas, Stephany Gauffeny sits quietly in a law office chair, her hand resting protectively on her pregnant belly. Exhaustion and anxiety weigh heavily on her as she faces an uncertain future.
Rather than preparing for the arrival of her fifth child, Gauffeny’s thoughts are consumed by her husband, Miguel Angel Garcia-Hernandez, who remains on life support after sustaining severe injuries during a shooting at a Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility last Wednesday. Garcia-Hernandez was detained there following his arrest on August 8 for driving under the influence. He is currently undocumented in the United States.
“It’s heartbreaking to imagine he might never meet our son,” Gauffeny confided to NPR, referring to her unborn baby boy.
Medical staff at Parkland Memorial Hospital informed her on Friday evening that Garcia-Hernandez’s chances of survival were slim, and as of Saturday afternoon, life-sustaining machines were keeping him alive.
One of the most distressing moments for Gauffeny was seeing her husband shackled to the hospital bed despite being unconscious and unable to move. ICE agents continue to control who can visit him, complicating access for both her and his family.
Miguel Angel Garcia-Hernandez, one of the victims wounded in the Dallas ICE facility shooting on Sept. 24.
Courtesy of Stephany Gauffeny
Alongside Garcia-Hernandez, Venezuelan detainee Jose Andres Bordones-Molina was also hurt during the incident. Tragically, a third individual, identified as 37-year-old Norlan Guzman Fuentes from El Salvador, lost his life. ICE confirmed the identities of all three victims and described them as “criminal illegal aliens.”
The shooter, identified by ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, died from self-inflicted injuries. Authorities reported that Jahn intended to “terrorize” ICE personnel, though none of the casualties were officers; all were detainees.
‘A devoted father and loving husband’
Gauffeny expressed frustration over the government’s slow disclosure of the ice-officer-facility-attacks/” title=”Surge in Attacks on … Off…rs and Facilities Across the US: What…s Behind the Rising Threat? | Civil Rights News”>victims’ identities, motivating her to share her husband’s story and humanize him beyond labels.
“I want people to remember him for who he truly was-not just as a detainee or an immigrant,” she said. She hopes this tragedy will lead to enhanced security measures at ICE detention centers to safeguard those inside.
Originally from Mexico, 31-year-old Garcia-Hernandez has lived in the U.S. since his teenage years. Although undocumented, the couple was pursuing permanent residency, leveraging Gauffeny’s status as a U.S. citizen.
Stephany Gauffeny with her husband, Miguel Angel Garcia-Hernandez.
Courtesy of Stephany Gauffeny
Gauffeny fondly recalls her husband’s warm personality and generosity. Known for his quick wit and kindness, he often lent a hand to neighbors and friends-whether it was offering rides, fixing vehicles, or helping with household chores like mounting televisions.
Even while detained, Garcia-Hernandez remained attentive to his family’s needs, frequently asking if anyone was helping with yard work at their new home.
Before his arrest, he worked as a house painter and delighted Gauffeny by bringing home her favorite treats, such as freshly grilled corn on the cob.
The couple met as teenagers and began dating around age 19. They have been married for ten years and share four children, aged 3, 8, 12, and 14.
“He was a doting father who spoiled the kids, and they deeply miss him,” Gauffeny shared.
She has yet to explain the situation to their children, holding onto hope for her husband’s recovery despite the grim prognosis.
Spending most of her time at the hospital, Gauffeny’s absence is noticeable to the children. She is permitted to visit her husband briefly each morning and evening.
With Garcia-Hernandez as the family’s primary breadwinner, financial concerns loom large. To cover essentials like groceries and bills, the family has launched a GoFundMe campaign.
“He had promised me that with his next paycheck, we’d buy everything the baby needed,” she said softly. “But that day never came.”
