AUSTIN — City officials are demanding an independent investigation after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot a Venezuelan man on Sunday, reigniting tensions over federal immigration enforcement in the Texas capital.
The man, identified by his attorney as 28-year-old Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, was shot in north Austin on Sept. 20. Neither local police nor the Department of Homeland Security have officially named him, but immigration attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch confirmed he is her client. DHS said in a social media post that Garces Perez had a final order of removal after entering the country illegally under the Biden administration, and that he is in stable condition in federal custody pending removal.
Lincoln-Goldfinch said she does not know why ICE targeted her client and could not comment on his immigration status.
Mayor Kirk Watson said Austin police were not involved in the shooting but assisted with traffic control. At a press conference shortly after the incident, Watson expressed anger but said he was “not surprised” given ICE’s recent tactics across the country. “With the nature of ICE and the way ICE is doing its business these days, there’s no reason for us to be surprised by it,” he said.
Watson joined other council members in calling for an independent probe, suggesting that Austin police could provide “clear third-party eyes and expertise” and that an ICE-led investigation would lack credibility. “From my perspective, the credibility of ICE doing some form of investigation just by itself and excluding others would not be appropriate,” he added.
Council members Vanessa Fuentes (District 2), Jose Velasquez (District 3), and Mayor Pro Tem Jose “Chito” Vela (District 4) issued a joint statement demanding “full transparency and accountability,” adding that “no federal agency is above scrutiny when the safety and rights of our community are at stake.”
At the scene, Council Member Zo Qadri (District 9) called for the release of dash and body camera footage, saying he was “disgusted” by the shooting. “Having it happen in our backyard is just horrifying,” he said. Council Member Mike Siegel (District 7) insisted that the city must be allowed to investigate alongside federal authorities. “Our top demand needs to be that the city can investigate this crime, can investigate what happened alongside the federal government,” he said.
Council Member Krista Laine (District 6) wished Garces Perez a “speedy recovery” and thanked first responders, while condemning the “blatant abuse of power” and calling for immediate release of footage. Council Member Marc Duchen (District 10) said ICE has a “clear obligation to cooperate” with local officials.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said her department is working with the Texas Rangers on the investigation. Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza’s office also called for an independent investigation, requesting that APD and his office be “co-equal partners” and that the federal government provide access to evidence, noting possible state law violations.
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, a Democrat representing the district, criticized ICE’s “secrecy and non-responsiveness,” accusing the agency of prioritizing deportation quotas over public safety. Rep. Greg Casar, another Austin Democrat, said he has asked DHS to cooperate with an independent investigation and demanded the agency brief Congress by Sept. 28.
The shooting adds to growing scrutiny of ICE operations, following recent incidents in Minneapolis where an officer faces assault charges. Critics argue that federal agents are increasingly targeting immigrants without adequate oversight, a concern echoed by local leaders here.
