Man shot by ICE in Austin is now in federal custody, officials say

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot and wounded a Venezuelan man, Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, during a traffic stop on Sunday afternoon in North Austin, Texas. The shooting occurred when officers approached the man's vehicle; he was subsequently taken to a hospital with serious but stable condition after being shot once in his torso. City leaders demanded an independent investigation and release of body camera footage from the incident. A federal judge later temporarily blocked Perez’s deportation while authorities investigate the shooting. His mother described speaking to him moments after the incident via video call, emphasizing the urgency of medical attention as Perez needs surgery to avoid losing feeling on the left side of his body due to the bullet lodged in his back. Austin city officials and activists are calling for transparency and accountability from ICE regarding this event.