ICE agent shoots Venezuelan man in Texas

On Sunday in Austin, Texas, a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and wounded Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan national. The victim was taken to the hospital with a torso wound, according to his lawyer. Local officials and the mayor are demanding answers from federal authorities and requesting an independent probe into the incident.

This is not the first such shooting involving an ICE officer in Texas; a similar event occurred in Houston earlier this year. Protests have gathered in Austin, with demonstrators waving flags from Mexico and Guatemala, demanding ICE's departure from the city. Mayor Kirk Watson stated that Austinites have a right to know the truth and to feel safe in their city.

ICE has been under intense scrutiny following several deadly shootings, including the death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, who was not a target of an ICE investigation but was shot during a traffic stop. Texas Congressman Greg Casar has called for a full and immediate independent investigation, as well as the release of body camera footage and accountability for any officer who may have broken the law.

The Trump administration has ramped up immigration enforcement efforts during its second term, which has sparked unrest across several US cities. The administration defends its policies as necessary for public safety and to carry out the mass deportations mandate, but rights activists argue that the administration has violated free speech and due process rights.