What We Know About the ICE Shooting in Austin, Texas, tell me about this news in (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/21/us/immigration-ice-shooting-austin-texas.html)

21-09-2026

The shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Austin, Texas, occurred on Sunday, September 20, 2026.

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The Incident
  • What Happened: An ICE officer shot and wounded a 28-year-old Venezuelan man, identified by his attorney as Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, in North Austin near Research Boulevard and Anderson Square.

    The Texas Tribune

  • The Context: According to his legal representative, Garces Perez was working as a DoorDash delivery driver when federal agents attempted a vehicle stop and pursuit. Authorities stated the shooting occurred during a law enforcement operation following a brief foot pursuit.

    The Texas Tribune+ 1

  • Injuries: He was shot once in the torso/upper back. While his condition was stabilized at an area hospital, his attorney reported that he was discharged within hours directly into federal custody and transferred to the South Texas ICE Processing Center in Pearsall with the bullet still lodged in his back.

    Washington Examiner+ 1

Conflicting Statements on Immigration Status
  • The Defense: His attorney stated that Garces Perez entered the U.S. lawfully through a parole program, had a valid work authorization, and had no criminal record.

    The Texas Tribune

  • Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Federal officials stated that the individual was living in the country without legal status and had a final order of removal.

    PBS

Local Reactions and Aftermath
  • Protests: Following the incident, dozens of community members and protesters gathered at the intersection where the shooting occurred. Tensions escalated later in the afternoon, resulting in local police deploying pepper-ball projectiles into the crowd after objects were thrown at officers.

    Facebook+ 1

  • Calls for Independent Investigation: Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and U.S. Representative Greg Casar condemned the incident and publicly demanded a transparent, independent investigation rather than internal federal reviews alone. The Travis County District Attorney’s Office also requested evidence from federal authorities.

    CBS News+ 1

  • Federal Inquiry: Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), supported by the FBI, was tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding the agent’s use of force.

    CBS News



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