On September 20, 2026, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot and wounded Wilber Rafael Garces Perez in Austin, Texas. The incident occurred during a traffic stop that involved the officer ramming the man's vehicle.
The shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez
Wilber Rafael Garces Perez,a 28-year-old Venezuelan man, was shot once in the torso on the north side of Austin,according to the report. The incident left a dark blue Toyota Corolla damaged with bullet holes and passenger-side door impact, parked under an overpass. While Mr. Perez was initially listed in serious but stable condition , his legal representation noted a sudden shift in his status.
Attorney Kate Lincoln Goldfinch informed the press that the hospital's attorney notified Mr. Perez's wife that he had been released into the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shortly after the shooting. As reported by the source, it remains unclear whether Mr.. Perez is still receiving medical treatment while in federal custody or if he has been moved to a detention facility.
Mayor Kirk Watson’s demand for third-party oversight
The shooting has created an immediate political rift between the city of Austin and federal authorities. Mayor Kirk Watson, a Democrat, has explicitly stated that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement should not be permitted to investigate the shooting independently. Mayor Watson argued that the Austin Police Department must be involved to provide "clear, third-party eyes" to ensure the credibility of the findings.
This sentiment is echoed by the office of Travis County District Attorney José Pompa Garza, which has formally requested that local prosecutors be included in the probe. the District Attorney's office has specifically asked the federal government for full access to the evidence gathered at the scene to ensure a transparent legal process.
The record 50,000 monthly arrests in July and August
This violent encounter occurs against a backdrop of intensified federal immigration actiivty. According to the report, U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement surged enforcement efforts across the United States during the summer of 2026, resulting in more than 50,000 arrests per month in July and August—a historic high for the agency.
U.S. Representative Greg Casar, who represents parts of Austin, has linked the shooting to this broader strategy. Representative Casar called the event a "horror" and urged the federal government to end its enforcement surge in the city to ensure the safety of Austin residents.
The missing location of the federal agent
Several critical details remain unverified as the investigation begins. Most notably, Mayor Kirk Watson admitted that city officials do not currently know the location of the federal agent involved in the shooting. This admission follows a pattern of federal agents leaving states after officer-involved shootings, though Mayor Watson expressed hope that the agent would not flee Texas.
Furthermore, the exact legal status of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez remains a point of contention. While attorney Kate Lincoln Goldfinch initially suggested Mr. Perez had no criminal history or final order of removal, she later clarified to the Associated Press that she did not know his current immigration status. The Department of Homeland Security has so far declined to participate in press briefings or provide specific details regarding the operation.
Comments 0