“If you saw Wilbur, just like if you saw anybody that had been shot three days ago, you would say this person needs a doctor, not a deportation, or a detention center. Why was he taken from the hospital?
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An ICE Officer Shoots a DoorDash Driver in North Austin, Then Agents Move Him Into Federal Custody Before His Wife Can See Him — Greg Casar Says "The Horror Has Come to Our City," and Austin's Mayor Says "Austinites Have a Right to Know What Happened"
September 20, 2026
Just before 1 p.m. on Sunday, September 20, 2026, an ICE officer shot and wounded Wilber Rafael Garcés Perez, 28, a Venezuelan DoorDash driver, during a vehicle stop and pursuit in North Austin. ICE said it had targeted his car over a license-plate check tied to a final removal order; his attorney says he entered the country legally and held a valid work permit. Garcés Perez called his wife at 12:30 p.m. to tell her he had been shot. He was hospitalized in serious but stable condition, then moved by federal agents to an undisclosed location — without being allowed to see his wife first — before landing in ICE custody pending removal. Rep. Greg Casar posted the same morning that "the horror has come to our city," and hours later sent DHS a formal letter demanding release of the unedited body-camera footage, preservation of evidence, and a briefing for Congress by September 28. Rep. Joaquin Castro said "Trump has allowed ICE to flood our streets and put our communities in harms way again and again and Governor Abbott is complicit every time." Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said "Austinites have a right to know what happened." Texas Senate candidate James Talarico said past incidents show "this agency cannot be trusted to report all the facts," and called for a full independent investigation with all footage released. DHS, without naming Garcés Perez, said he had a final removal order and entered during the Biden administration; Homeland Security Investigations, with FBI assistance, is leading the review.
14
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14 Statements
“ICE has become an abusive, rogue organization. They said that Homeland Security was going to do a joint investigation with the FBI. Homeland Security, at this point, has zero credibility.
“Despite losing movement on his left side and having a bullet lodged next to his spine, ICE has forced Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez out of the hospital … He came to the United States legally. He had work permits and was an asylum seeker.
“This is ICE in our community, apparently not in cooperation or collaboration with our local law enforcement. We need to have an independent investigation into this.
“There must be a full and transparent investigation into what happened.
“ICE agents are supposed to be wearing body cameras. So I would like to see the body camera so we know what led up to this man being shot. [An investigation] should not be coming from the agency that has authority over the agent that shot.
“This is a pattern – it's a disturbing pattern – and it's got to stop. … I am demanding, and Congress is making very clear to the head of ICE and to Secretary Mullin, that Wilber Garcés needs to be released to medical care. … I don't care if you're a Democrat or Republican, we all believe the federal government should not be allowed to shoot you and then disappear you from the country so that no one can be held responsible. [Casar warned that deporting Garcés Pérez would remove the] key witness to this shooting.
“Any protest that is about throwing rocks and venting anger does not help us. It only helps Trump and those who are running ICE. So we need protests that are bringing folks to our side. I hope you will continue to speak out, and I hope you will carry the protest to the polls.
“I completely agree … I am in favor of an independent investigation. [Peña, the Republican nominee running against Rep. Greg Casar in Texas’s 37th district, also said she wanted the body-camera footage released.]
“It went from what I would say is a handful of incidents during a day in given week to, in some instances, five times as many in a given week.
“The horror has come to our city: ICE has shot a person in Austin this morning. As the facts emerge, I am demanding a full, independent investigation, immediate release of the body camera footage, and accountability for any ICE officer who broke the law. Over and over, ICE has shot people and then lied about what happened. We can see the lies with our own eyes. We will demand truth, transparency and accountability.
“Breaking: ICE shot and injured a man in Austin, Texas, earlier today. Trump has allowed ICE to flood our streets and put our communities in harms way again and again and Governor Abbott is complicit every time. I am demanding the body camera footage and full accountability.
“Austinites have a right to know what happened.
“Previous incidents have shown that this agency cannot be trusted to report all the facts. We need a full, independent investigation that includes the release of any and all available footage. My prayers are with those impacted and with the Austin community.