ICE Officer Shoots Man During Enforcement Action in North Austin
On Sunday September 20th, 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shot another person, this time on the north side of Austin, Texas.
Subject Identification and Legal Status
The details have been evolving over time but what has been confirmed is that he is a Venezuelan immigrant by the name of Wilber Rafael Garcés Perez, he is 28 years old. There are conflicting statements from law enforcement and other sources regarding his immigration status, with DHS claiming he is “illegally" in the US with orders for removal.
Immigration lawyer Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch escorted the man's wife to Dell Seton, however, they were denied entry to the facility. Lincoln-Goldfinch reported that she believed Perez was in the country lawfully with a work permit. She confirmed that he was DoorDashing with an associate when the interaction began.
Conflicting Accounts of the Incident
At approximately 1pm local time, a representative for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claims that an ICE agent was engaged in a foot pursuit with Perez that ended with him being shot in the torso. Perez was initially reported to be in “serious” condition and hospitalized at Dell Seton Medical Center.
Reports from witnesses contest the claims from DHS, stating that it was a vehicle pursuit where an ICE vehicle allegedly collided with the vehicle Perez was in. ICE later, allegedly, shot through the vehicle and struck him in the torso.
Footage obtained from eye witnesses show ICE's vehicle, a dark-colored SUV, ramming into the front of the vehicle Perez was a passenger in, a blue Toyota Corolla. After the Toyota was disabled, at least two agents exited their own vehicle and approached. The agent that approached the passenger side began to fire multiple shots while still moving toward the rear of the vehicle. The Toyota had damage to the front passenger door and at least two apparent bullet holes in the right rear window, according to video from several witness videos taken at the scene.
Perez' associate, the driver, was observed in handcuffs after the shooting, their whereabouts unknown.
Hospital Access, Custody Status, and Medical Update
Lincoln-Goldfinch reported that she was turned away from the hospital with Perez' wife; there is video evidence with security showing as much. U.S. Representative Greg Casar had confirmed that Perez was hospitalized there, though security denied that fact.
After not hearing from Perez for over six hours, he was finally able to call his wife and she reported that he was "yelling in pain”.
In a post at approximately 8:30 local time, Lincoln-Goldfinch reported that ICE had advised her that Perez was now in stable condition and in ICE custody. Sean was able to speak with Lincoln-Goldfinch around 11p and there was still no update on what condition Perez was in and that he was moved to detention at an unknown location. She confirmed that he sustained a neck wound in the altercation.
Official Responses and Political Context
“This is a pattern. This is a disturbing pattern,” said Rep. Casar, who represents parts of Austin. And Casar is correct, there has been an obscene uptick in violent incidents with ICE incidents since Trump took office again with several dozen deaths being attributed to them.
DHS took to social media late Sunday night, claiming again that Perez was in the country illegally, with orders for removal and that he was let in under the Biden administration. They confirmed that the FBI was in charge of the investigation.
Local Demonstrations and Law Enforcement Response
In response to this incident, a large protest has gathered at the highway overpass where the shooting occurred, Mexican flags and anti-ICE signs were held in solidarity. The activity has been met with hostility from law enforcement, including at least one teenager being sprayed with pepper spray along with other incidents of pepper ball deployment and use of tear gas.
Lincoln-Goldfinch provided the following update on Wilber around noon: "He is being beld at Pearsall for interrogation and still has the bullet lodged in his body. He’s received no pain medication and had to sleep on the floor."
