A man was hospitalized in Austin, Texas, after being shot by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer on Sunday, local authorities confirmed. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson expressed outrage over the incident and demanded a transparent probe involving the local police department.
Officials reported that the man sustained a single gunshot wound to the torso during a brief foot chase on the city’s north side shortly before 1 pm local time. He remains in serious but stable condition at a local hospital, with officials noting that details regarding the encounter remain preliminary.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis stated that city officers did not participate in the operation or the shooting. In response, Watson requested that the Austin Police Department’s Special Investigation Unit, which handles officer-involved shootings, take the lead on ensuring a thorough inquiry. Davis has also invited the Texas Rangers to assist with the investigation.
While officials have not released the victim’s name, his immigration attorney, Kate Lincoln Goldfinch, identified him as Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan national. Goldfinch told Reuters that she believes Garces Perez has no criminal record and lacks a final order of removal, though she noted uncertainty regarding his current immigration status. No official statement has been issued by ICE or the Department of Homeland Security.
The shooting has triggered public demonstrations, with approximately 100 protesters gathering near the site. News reports indicate that demonstrators stood across from a damaged blue Toyota Corolla believed to be involved in the incident, while ICE agents remained nearby.
Mayor Watson criticized the surge in ICE operations in Austin, describing the agency’s conduct as “rogue” and citing a sharp increase in activities across the city. “While I’m angry and disappointed, I’m not surprised,” Watson wrote on X. He emphasized that residents have a right to know the facts and feel safe in their community.
US Representative Greg Casar, a Texas Democrat, also called for transparency, accusing ICE of being untruthful about shootings in other jurisdictions. “It is awful that this horror has come to our doorstep,” Casar said, adding that he and others had previously warned that ICE’s presence could lead to violence.
The incident marks another controversy in a series of events involving ICE under the Trump administration’s stricter immigration enforcement policies.
Another tragic incident highlights the urgent need for immigration reform. We keep seeing lives lost in these chase scenarios.
Mayor Watson calling ICE ‘rogue’ is quite a bold statement. It shows how divided everyone is about these enforcement tactics right now.
Has anyone confirmed if he had a weapon? The article mentions no criminal record, which makes the shooting even more alarming.
I’m genuinely shocked a Venezuelan man was shot during what sounds like a non-violent pursuit. This needs serious scrutiny.
An independent investigation is absolutely crucial here. The public needs full transparency, not just local police handling it.