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An ICE officer shot and wounded a man during a traffic stop in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, prompting demands for an independent investigation.
The man was hospitalized in serious but stable condition as local officials sought more information about the federal operation and shooting.
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and wounded a man Sunday afternoon during an encounter that followed a traffic stop in Austin, Texas, local authorities said. The man was shot once in the torso and taken to a hospital, where officials said he was in serious but stable condition. Austin police said their officers were not involved in the shooting.
The shooting occurred on the north side of Austin shortly before 1 p.m. local time. Police Chief Lisa Davis said the available information was preliminary and that investigators were still working to establish what happened. The Texas Department of Public Safety said ICE requested assistance with a vehicle pursuit around 12:50 p.m., but state troopers arrived after the shooting had occurred.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, did not participate in the city’s news conference and had not provided detailed information about the incident. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson called for local law enforcement to participate in the investigation, while the Travis County district attorney’s office requested access to evidence and cooperation from federal authorities.
The man was later identified by an immigration attorney representing his family as Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan national. The attorney said she was not aware of a criminal history or final removal order involving Perez, but also said she did not know his current immigration status. AP reported that Perez’s wife was later informed that he had been released from the hospital into ICE custody, although details about his medical status and transfer were not immediately clear.
The shooting quickly drew protesters to the scene, where a significant law enforcement presence remained as investigators examined a damaged dark blue Toyota Corolla. Local officials have emphasized that the circumstances remain under investigation, and authorities have not publicly provided a full account of the events immediately preceding the shooting.
The incident comes amid an expanded federal immigration enforcement campaign across the United States. ICE recorded more than 50,000 arrests per month in July and August, according to AP, marking the first time the agency reached that level. The Austin shooting also follows other recent incidents involving ICE officers and people encountered during immigration enforcement operations, increasing scrutiny of the use of force by federal immigration agents.
The investigation is expected to examine the circumstances of the traffic stop, the subsequent pursuit and the use of a firearm by the federal officer. Local and federal authorities have not announced whether criminal charges or disciplinary action will result, and officials have said additional details will depend on the ongoing investigation.
Sources: The Associated Press, NBC News, BBC, Sky News, The Guardian, ABC News and The New York Times.