ICE Agent Shoots Venezuelan Man During Austin Operation

An officer from United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement shot and wounded 28-year-old Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a Venezuelan national and DoorDash driver, during a law enforcement operation in North Austin on September 20, 2026. The shooting occurred in the 7000 block of West Anderson Lane following a traffic stop and pursuit. Conflicting accounts exist: the U.S. Department of Homeland Security described the event as a response to a dangerous attempt to evade arrest, while Garces Perez and his attorney claim he was sideswiped by unmarked vehicles and shot in the back.

Garces Perez was treated at a trauma center before being transferred to the South Texas ICE Processing Center in Pearsall. U.S. Representative Greg Casar reported that the victim requires surgery to remove a bullet lodged near his spine, though the Department of Homeland Security maintains he is receiving stable care. A federal judge has scheduled a hearing for September 30 in San Antonio to consider a petition to block his deportation.

The incident triggered violent protests in Austin, where demonstrators clashed with police, resulting in several arrests and injuries to officers. While some gatherings remained peaceful, investigations suggest certain protests were coordinated by socialist and communist organizations. Local leaders, including Mayor Kirk Watson and Representative Casar, have demanded an independent investigation and the release of body-camera footage, noting that the officer involved was not wearing a device at the time of the shooting.