Story perspectives

ICE Officer Shoots Man During Austin Traffic Stop

By Drooid · Sep 22, 2026, 6:02 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

ICE Officer Shoots

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot Wilber Rafael Garces Perez during a traffic stop in Austin.
The officer sideswiped Perez’s car before firing.
Perez was hospitalized with a spinal bullet and moved 130 miles to the ICE Center.
He later slept on a floor without medication and developed left-side paralysis.
ICE put officer on leave; Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and FBI investigate, Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) demanded footage.

Summary

Businesses Report Decline

Local businesses near the shooting reported a 60% sales decline after the incident.
Residents now avoid walking dogs or going out at night because they fear ICE encounters.
Bishop Daniel E. Garcia called the shooting “deeply saddened and disturbed,” urging prayers and humane policy.
LULAC chair Roman Palomares demanded independent oversight, saying ICE should not be the sole judge of its conduct.

History

Historical Context

The 1992 Los Angeles riots erupted after a jury acquitted four LAPD officers in the Rodney King case, killing 55 people, injuring thousands and causing over $1 billion in damage. Decades later, an ICE officer’s shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez in Austin revived fears of police violence, prompting civil-rights groups such as LULAC and Bishop García to demand oversight.

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ICE Officer Shoots

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot Wilber Rafael Garces Perez during a traffic stop in Austin.
The officer sideswiped Perez’s car before firing.
Perez was hospitalized with a spinal bullet and moved 130 miles to the ICE Center.
He later slept on a floor without medication and developed left-side paralysis.
ICE put officer on leave; Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and FBI investigate, Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) demanded footage.

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