September 21, 2026
A 28-year-old Venezuelan man was shot and wounded by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer during an enforcement operation in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, September 20.
The man has been identified by his attorney as Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez. According to his attorney, Garcés Pérez was working and completing a DoorDash delivery when the incident occurred. DoorDash has also confirmed that he was in the process of making a delivery.
Austin officials said an ICE officer shot Garcés Pérez once in the upper torso following what authorities described as a brief foot pursuit. Austin police were not involved in the federal operation or the shooting. Garcés Pérez was transported to a hospital in serious but stable condition and was later released into federal immigration custody.
Questions Remain About What Happened
There are still significant unanswered questions about the circumstances that led to the shooting.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has said the incident occurred during a law enforcement operation and that Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the FBI, is investigating. Austin officials have also called for local and state authorities to participate in reviewing what happened.
There are also conflicting accounts regarding Garcés Pérez’s immigration history. His attorney has stated that he entered the United States legally and had a valid work permit. DHS, however, has stated that he entered unlawfully and is subject to a final order of removal. Those conflicting claims have not yet been fully resolved publicly.
Calls for Transparency and Accountability
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson has called for an independent and transparent investigation, arguing that Austin residents deserve to know what happened and why. The Austin Police Department and Texas Rangers are expected to participate in investigating the shooting alongside federal authorities.
The incident comes only months after another ICE-involved shooting in Texas. In July, an ICE officer fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston.
At Powers Law Group, our thoughts are with Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, his loved ones, and everyone affected by this incident.
Regardless of a person’s immigration status, encounters with immigration enforcement raise fundamental questions of due process, safety, transparency, and accountability. As investigations continue, the public deserves clear information about the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the actions that led to it.
Powers Law Group does not represent Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez. This article is provided for general informational purposes and is based on publicly available reporting as of September 21, 2026. It is not legal advice.
