ICE Officer Shoots Venezuelan National in North Austin; Mayor Calls Agency “Rogue” as Protesters Clash With Police

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot a man once in the torso Sunday afternoon in North Austin during a federal operation, city officials said. Austin-Travis County EMS was notified at about 12:56 p.m. in the 8000 block of Anderson Square, near U.S. 183. Paramedics arrived in under five minutes and took the man from the scene within nine minutes to Dell Seton Medical Center in serious but stable condition.

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said preliminary information pointed to a “small foot pursuit” before the shots. She said APD was not involved in the shooting and only handled traffic control. Homeland Security Investigations, with FBI assistance, is leading the federal inquiry. APD’s Special Investigations Unit and the Texas Rangers are also on the case.

Department of Homeland Security sources identified the man as an illegal immigrant from Venezuela with a final order of removal who entered during the Biden administration. DHS posted that his condition was stable and that he was in federal custody pending removal.

Immigration attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch identified him as Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, 28. She said he had been delivering for DoorDash and that his wife, Elizdar, received a call from the car while he was “yelling in pain.” Hospital lawyers confirmed his release after about six hours into what the family believes is ICE custody. Lincoln-Goldfinch first said he had held a valid work permit and entered lawfully and that she believed he had no criminal history and no final removal order. She later told the Associated Press she did not know his current immigration status.

Social-media video showed a blue Toyota Corolla facing a Ford SUV; an officer approached the Toyota’s rear passenger side before shots were heard. City Council member Mike Siegel alleged the federal vehicle rammed the car and that the officer fired at least five times. Officials have not confirmed that account. Authorities have not said the man fired a weapon. The officer has not been named.

Mayor Kirk Watson, a Democrat, said at a City Hall news conference that he was “very angry” and “extremely disappointed” that “a person was shot on the streets of Austin by ICE.” He said he was “not surprised.” In a written statement he cited “the rogue nature of ICE and the chaos we’re seeing fomented by ICE” and said ICE’s presence “creates some fear in our city.” He argued ICE should not investigate itself and asked APD to provide “clear, third-party eyes.” He said he hoped the agent would not leave Texas.

Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, wrote that “ICE has shot a person in Austin this morning,” demanded body-camera video and an independent probe, and said, “Over and over, ICE has shot people and then lied about what happened.” At the news conference he called it a “disturbing pattern,” said ICE had “arrested 5-year-olds,” and argued ICE should end its Austin surge. Rep. Joaquin Castro also called for immediate release of body-camera footage. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, wrote that the man was a Venezuelan national in the country illegally with a final removal order and that “the war is the one being waged against Americans through mass legal & illegal immigration.”

Protesters gathered at the scene within hours. Crowd estimates ranged from about 100 to several hundred. Demonstrators held signs reading “ICE Nazi” and “Nobody is safe,” cursed officers, waved flags, and filmed on phones. Video later showed activists confronting officers in riot gear as police tried to disperse the crowd and took several people into custody. Fox News reported fireworks at an anti-ICE protest in North Austin that night.

No charges against the officer or the man who was shot had been announced Sunday night. Lincoln-Goldfinch scheduled a Monday press conference with LULAC.