A 28-year-old Venezuelan man was shot by an agent of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Austin, Texas, sparking local protests and political backlash. The man, identified as Wilber Rafael Garcés, was seriously injured but stable, according to authorities. The incident occurred in the northern part of the city and has raised concerns about ICE’s increasing presence and tactics in the area.

Details of the Shooting

According to the Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis, the man was shot in the torso during an encounter with ICE agents. The precise circumstances of the shooting are still unclear. Reports suggest that Garcés was in his car at the time, with some witnesses claiming the agent fired from behind the vehicle. One witness, identified only as Juan, stated that Garcés told him: “They shot me from behind.”

The ICE agent involved was reportedly driving an unmarked black van and approached Garcés’s vehicle. According to Mike Siegel, an Austin city council member who arrived at the scene, the ICE agent “collided” with Garcés’s car before exiting and firing shots. Garcés was taken to a hospital in critical but stable condition, and was later transferred to an ICE detention center, according to his lawyer, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch.

Political and Public Reactions

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson expressed strong anger at the incident. “It is unacceptable that agents from an agency claiming to uphold the rule of law would shoot people on the street,” he said during a press conference. Watson and Davis called for local police to be involved in the investigation, arguing that an independent review by federal authorities would lack transparency.

Local Democratic Representative Greg Casar, whose district includes Austin, criticized ICE’s behavior. “Immer wieder hat ICE auf Menschen geschossen und dann gelogen über das, was passiert ist,” he said in a statement, adding that the incident is part of a pattern.

Protesters gathered at the scene following the incident, with some calling for the dissolution of the ICE agency. The shooting has rekindled broader debates about immigration enforcement and the role of federal agencies in local communities. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, confirmed the incident and stated that the man was in illegal status and would be subject to deportation.

Background and Context

Garcés, who had been living in Austin for two years, was working as a DoorDash delivery driver at the time of the incident. His lawyer confirmed he had no criminal record and had not been issued a final deportation order. According to a hospital representative, he was released from the hospital and immediately placed in ICE custody.

ICE’s activities in Austin have increased significantly in recent months, according to local officials. The agency’s use of force and its controversial enforcement practices have long been points of contention in immigration debates in the United States.