ICE Shooting of Immigrant in Texas Under Investigation: What to Know
The Department of Homeland Security’s investigative arm is leading a probe into the shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant in Austin.
On September 20, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched an investigation into a shooting involving an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Austin, Texas. The incident occurred when an ICE agent shot a 28-year-old Venezuelan man, Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, during a traffic stop near Anderson Square and Research Boulevard. According to Austin immigration lawyer Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, Perez had a valid work permit and entered the U.S. legally.
The Texas Department of Public Safety contacted ICE officials at around 12:50 p.m. to pursue a blue Toyota Corolla, which had been involved in a previous incident. However, before the arrival of state troopers, an ICE agent opened fire on the driver of the Toyota Corolla. An ambulance arrived at the scene about 12:56 p.m., and the driver was reported to be in stable condition at Dell Seton Medical Center.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson expressed his anger over the incident, stating that local police were not involved in the shooting. Watson called for independent investigations and urged the release of available footage of the shooting. Rep. Greg Casar, a Democrat representing Texas, also requested a congressional briefing on the matter and public release of body and dash camera footage from federal officers present at the scene.
Casar noted a disturbing pattern of increased ICE activity in Austin under President Donald Trump's administration.
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