ICE agent shoots Venezuelan man in Texas, causing serious injury

What This is

• An ICE officer shot a 28-year-old Venezuelan man during an incident in North Austin tied to a traffic stop and a brief pursuit.
• The man was shot in the torso, taken to a hospital, and described as in serious but stable or stable condition.
• He was identified by his lawyer as Wilber Rafael Garcés Perez, described in some reports as a DoorDash driver and an asylum seeker.
• The Department of Homeland Security said he entered the U.S. illegally and had a final removal order, and it said he would be in federal custody.
• Austin police said local officers were not involved in the operation, and city leaders and Rep. Greg Casar called for an independent investigation and transparency.
• Protests gathered near the scene after the shooting as activists and residents objected to ICE operations and demanded answers.

Why This Matters

• The case tests how much oversight local leaders can get when federal officers use force in their city.
• It raises due-process concerns when a person and their lawyer say they cannot quickly confirm where he is being held.
• The dispute over whether he was an asylum seeker or under a final deportation order shapes how the public judges the enforcement action.
• The protests reflect growing tension over stepped-up immigration enforcement and the risks it creates for communities and officers.