A man remains in hospital after an ICE officer shot him during a traffic stop in Austin, Texas. Local officials said the shooting happened on Sunday afternoon on the north side of the city. Authorities have started an investigation as community leaders call for more answers.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said the man was shot once in the torso. Emergency crews took him to a hospital. Officials said he was in serious but stable condition after receiving treatment.
An attorney representing the family identified the injured man as Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan national. His family is now seeking information about his condition and the events that led to the shooting.
Lawyer Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch said she believes Garces Perez has no criminal history. She also said she is not aware of any final removal order against him. Later, she explained that she could not confirm his current immigration status.
The attorney said family members have struggled to obtain updates from the hospital. They are still trying to learn more about his medical condition and location.
Police officials said Austin officers did not take part in the traffic stop or the shooting. The operation involved federal immigration authorities. City police arrived afterward as part of the response and investigation.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, did not attend the news conference held by city officials. Federal authorities also did not immediately release additional details about the case.
Mayor Kirk Watson said an independent and transparent review is needed. He wants the Austin Police Department involved in the investigation so local residents can have confidence in the findings.
Watson said people in Austin deserve clear answers about what happened. He added that a fair investigation can help strengthen public trust and provide greater accountability.
During the news conference, reporters asked whether city officials knew the location of the federal agent involved. Watson said they did not know where the agent was at that time. He added that he hopes the agent remains available to investigators and stays in the area while the case is reviewed.
Chief Davis said investigators were still gathering facts. She explained that many details remained unclear because the shooting had occurred only hours earlier. Her department’s special investigation unit responded to the scene to collect evidence and document events.
Authorities have not yet released information about what happened before the shooting. Officials also have not explained what led the officer to use force during the traffic stop.
The incident drew public attention within hours. A large police presence surrounded the area as investigators worked. At the same time, around 100 protesters gathered nearby.
Many demonstrators expressed concern about immigration enforcement activities. Some carried signs and called for greater oversight of federal operations. Others voiced support for a full investigation into the shooting.
Passing drivers honked their horns as the protest continued. Officers remained at the scene to monitor the crowd and maintain public safety.
US Representative Greg Casar called for transparency as investigators review the case. The congressman, who represents parts of Austin, said residents deserve a full account of what occurred.
Casar also criticized the recent increase in immigration enforcement operations. He said the shooting has raised concerns among many people in the community.
The case comes during a period of increased ICE activity across the United States. Federal authorities reported more than 50,000 arrests in both July and August. Those figures marked a record level of monthly immigration enforcement activity.
The Austin shooting also follows another recent incident involving an ICE officer. In July, a Houston man named Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was fatally shot after federal agents pursued him while he was driving members of his construction crew to a job site.
As the Austin ICE shooting investigation continues, officials say more information will be released when verified facts become available. Community leaders and family members are waiting for answers as investigators work to determine exactly what happened.
