A Venezuelan national was shot and wounded by a US immigration enforcement officer in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, triggering outrage from local officials and demands for a transparent investigation. The incident has intensified scrutiny of the aggressive tactics used by federal agents under the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
The man, identified by his lawyer as 28-year-old Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, was taken to a hospital in the Texas capital in serious but stable condition after being shot in the torso. His attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, said on social media that Garces Perez was shot while making a DoorDash delivery.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson expressed anger and disappointment, calling for an independent investigation involving local police. "The credibility of ICE doing some form of investigation just by itself and excluding others would not be appropriate," Watson told reporters. He noted that the shooting occurred during a "significant increase, almost overnight" of ICE operations in the city.
The Department of Homeland Security said it is leading an investigation with the FBI. In a statement, the department claimed that Garces Perez had "illegally entered our country under the Biden administration and had a final order of removal." It added that his condition is stable and that he is in federal custody pending removal.
Demands for transparency and accountability
Texas Democratic Representative Greg Casar echoed the mayor's concerns, stating that "ICE has not been truthful in shootings in other cities." He cited the January shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis, where video footage contradicted ICE's account that she had attempted to run over an agent. Casar called for the release of body camera footage from Sunday's incident.
Hours later, Casar reported that Garces Perez had been "taken out of the hospital and into ICE custody." He warned, "If ICE deports him, the key witness to their shooting disappears. He must not be removed from this country and he must receive proper medical care." Lincoln-Goldfinch confirmed her client was in custody but said his location remains unknown.
The shooting sparked protests in Austin, with local news footage showing dozens of demonstrators at the site. The incident adds to a pattern of violent encounters involving ICE agents, including the March 2025 shooting of 23-year-old Ruben Ray Martinez, the first known killing of an American by immigration agents during Trump's second term.
Trump has made immigration enforcement a cornerstone of his presidency, promising to deport millions of undocumented migrants. Nearly 51,000 undocumented migrants were arrested in August, according to Department of Homeland Security figures. The aggressive tactics have drawn criticism from across the political spectrum, with many questioning the balance between enforcement and public safety.
As the investigation unfolds, the case of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over immigration policy and the use of force by federal agents. The demand for an independent probe reflects growing distrust in ICE's ability to police itself, a sentiment that resonates beyond Texas and across the United States.
