ICE agent shoots Venezuelan man during Austin pursuit
An ICE agent shot 28‑year‑old Venezuelan national Wilber Rafael Garces Perez during a pursuit in North Austin on Sept. 20, 2026, near the 7000 block of West Anderson Lane and Research Boulevard.
The incident ignited protests across the city and prompted a wave of political responses. A federal judge on Sept. 23 ordered that Perez remain in Texas and appear at a hearing on Sept. 30, temporarily blocking his removal while investigations continue.
According to Austin‑Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz, officers were notified of a reported shooting at about 12:56 p.m. EMS arrived within three and a half minutes and found Perez with a gunshot wound to the torso. He was transported to a local trauma center in “serious but stable” condition before being transferred to ICE custody later that afternoon.
Mayor Kirk Watson, speaking at a press conference, said he was “very angry and extremely disappointed” that a person was shot on Austin streets by ICE, adding that he was not surprised given past incidents in other cities. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis confirmed that Austin police were not involved in the shooting and that the Austin Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit was on scene to assist.
Representative Greg Casar (D‑TX) demanded a full, independent investigation and the immediate release of any body‑camera footage. More than 100 members of Congress signed a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Mark Mullin and ICE Acting Director David Venturella asking that Perez be released from detention and receive medical care.
In response, the Department of Homeland Security issued a fact sheet refuting several claims made by protesters and Perez’s attorney. DHS stated that Perez is an illegal alien who entered the United States under the Biden administration, holds a final order of removal, and whose work permit expired in 2025. The agency also clarified that ICE does not decide whether a bullet should be removed and that Perez is receiving medical care, including pain medication, while in ICE custody.
Body‑camera footage released by the Austin Police Department shows officers assisting Perez out of his vehicle after the shooting, contradicting earlier statements that ICE agents had pulled him from the car. The video also captures officers asking whether Perez was armed and noting a single gunshot wound.
Surveillance video obtained by independent journalists shows two ICE vehicles with flashing lights and sirens pursuing Perez’s car before the shot was fired, challenging the claim that the agents were not using lights or sirens.
The shooting has also drawn attention to organized protest activity. Several far‑left groups, including the Democratic Socialists of America and the Party for Socialism and Liberation, posted calls for spontaneous demonstrations at the scene within hours of the incident.
Authorities continue to investigate the use of force. Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the FBI, is leading the federal inquiry, while Austin police and the Texas Rangers are conducting parallel investigations. The next court hearing on Sept. 30 will determine whether Perez remains in detention pending the outcome of these investigations.