A man remains in hospital after an ICE officer shot him during a traffic stop in Austin, Texas. Local officials said the incident happened on the north side of the city on Sunday afternoon and is now under investigation.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said the man was shot once in the torso. He was taken to a hospital and was reported to be in serious but stable condition. City officials held a news conference later in the day to provide early details about the case.
An immigration lawyer representing the man’s family identified him as Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a 28-year-old man from Venezuela.
Attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch said she believes Garces Perez does not have a criminal history. She also said she is not aware of any final order requiring his removal from the United States. However, she later stated that she did not know his current immigration status.
The lawyer said the family has struggled to obtain information about his condition and location from the hospital. Family members continue to seek updates as the investigation moves forward.
Police officials said Austin officers were not involved in the traffic stop or the shooting. Chief Davis explained that the event involved federal immigration authorities and occurred during an enforcement operation.
The Department of Homeland Security, the federal agency that oversees ICE, did not take part in the city’s news conference. Officials also did not immediately provide additional details about the incident.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson called for a transparent investigation. He said the city’s police department should be involved so that an independent review can take place.
According to Watson, residents deserve confidence that the investigation will be fair and thorough. He said outside oversight can help build trust and improve public confidence in the outcome.
The mayor was also asked whether local authorities knew the location of the federal agent involved in the shooting. Watson said city officials did not know where the agent was. He added that he hopes the agent remains available during the investigation and does not leave the area.
Chief Davis said many facts were still being collected. She noted that investigators were working at the scene shortly after the shooting. Her department’s special investigation unit was also present.
Officials said it was too early to answer many questions about the circumstances that led to the use of force. Authorities have not yet released detailed information about what happened before the shooting.
The incident quickly drew public attention. A large law enforcement presence gathered near the scene. About 100 protesters also arrived to express concern over the shooting and immigration enforcement activities in the city.
Some demonstrators shouted at officers standing nearby, while others held signs criticizing ICE operations. Passing drivers also reacted as the protest continued through the afternoon.
US Representative Greg Casar, who represents parts of Austin, called for transparency during the investigation. He said residents deserve clear answers about what happened.
Casar described the event as deeply troubling and urged officials to release information as soon as possible. He also criticized the recent increase in immigration enforcement activity in the area.
The shooting comes during a period of expanded ICE enforcement across the United States. Federal immigration authorities have reported record levels of arrests during recent months.
Government data showed that ICE carried out more than 50,000 arrests in both July and August. Those totals marked the first time the agency reached that level in consecutive months.
The Austin shooting follows another recent case involving an ICE officer. In July, an officer fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old Houston resident. Authorities said federal agents in unmarked vehicles pursued him while he was driving members of his construction crew to a work site.
As investigators gather evidence in Austin, local leaders continue to call for a full review of the shooting. Officials say more information will be released once investigators complete the next stages of their work.
