ICE Officer Shoots Venezuelan Man Making DoorDash Delivery in Austin, Texas
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and seriously wounded a Venezuelan man on Sunday afternoon in Austin, Texas, as he was making a DoorDash food delivery, according to his attorney and local authorities. The shooting has sparked outrage across the city and reignited the fierce national debate over immigration enforcement tactics.
What Happened in Austin
The man, identified by his attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch as 28-year-old Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, was shot at least once in the torso on the city’s north side. He was rushed to a local hospital in serious but stable condition. According to Austin Police, the shooting occurred after ICE agents boxed in Perez’s vehicle during what was described as a routine immigration enforcement operation.
His attorney said Perez was working as a DoorDash delivery driver at the time of the shooting, a detail that has fueled public anger and raised questions about ICE’s use of force during routine enforcement actions. Lincoln-Goldfinch told reporters that Perez had no criminal history and no final order of removal from the United States.
He was just trying to earn a living, Lincoln-Goldfinch said. He was delivering food to a family. There was absolutely no reason to shoot him.
The Investigation
The Austin Police Department and ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility are both investigating the shooting. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis confirmed that the department responded to the scene and is working closely with federal authorities to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
We are taking this matter extremely seriously, Davis said at a press conference on Sunday evening. Every use of force by a law enforcement officer must be justified, and we will ensure a thorough and transparent investigation.
ICE released a brief statement confirming that one of its officers had discharged a weapon during an enforcement operation but did not provide additional details about what prompted the shooting. The agency said the officer has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, which is standard protocol in officer-involved shootings.
The incident is the latest in a series of controversial enforcement actions by ICE under the Trump administration, which has dramatically expanded the agency’s operations and given agents broader authority to conduct arrests in communities across the country.
Protests Erupt Across Austin
The shooting triggered immediate protests in Austin, with hundreds of demonstrators gathering near the scene of the incident on Sunday evening. The protesters, many carrying signs reading ICE Out of Austin and No Justice No Peace, blocked traffic on several major streets and clashed briefly with police before the crowd dispersed around midnight.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson condemned the shooting in a statement released Sunday night. The use of deadly force against a man who was simply doing his job is deeply troubling, Watson said. Austin is a welcoming city, and we will stand with our immigrant community during this difficult time.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, however, defended ICE’s actions, saying that federal agents have a duty to enforce immigration laws and that the investigation will determine whether the use of force was appropriate. Abbott has been a vocal supporter of Trump’s immigration crackdown and has deployed state troopers to assist ICE operations in several Texas cities.
The Broader Immigration Enforcement Landscape
The Austin shooting comes amid a dramatic escalation in immigration enforcement across the United States. Since returning to office in January 2026, Trump has signed multiple executive orders expanding ICE’s authority and increasing the agency’s budget by more than 40 percent.
According to data from ICE, the agency has made more than 300,000 arrests since January, compared to approximately 170,000 during the same period in 2024. The increase has been particularly dramatic in Texas, where ICE operations have expanded to include workplace raids, traffic stops, and neighborhood patrols.
Civil rights organizations have expressed alarm at the pace and intensity of the enforcement operations. The American Civil Liberties Union has filed multiple lawsuits challenging ICE’s tactics, arguing that the agency is violating constitutional protections against unreasonable search and seizure.
What we are seeing is a fundamental breakdown in the balance between immigration enforcement and civil liberties, said ACLU attorney Omar Jadwat. When ICE agents can shoot someone for delivering food, something has gone seriously wrong.
Impact on Austin’s Immigrant Community
Austin is home to an estimated 100,000 undocumented immigrants, many of whom work in the city’s thriving food service, construction, and technology industries. The shooting has sent shockwaves through the community, with many residents reporting that they are now afraid to leave their homes.
The Austin Independent School District reported a 15 percent drop in attendance among Latino students on Monday, as families kept their children home out of fear of ICE raids. Local businesses, particularly those in predominantly Latino neighborhoods, reported significant drops in customer traffic.
This is exactly the kind of fear that ICE wants to create, said Maria Gonzalez, director of the Austin Immigrant Rights Coalition. When people are afraid to go to work, afraid to send their children to school, afraid to go to the grocery store, the entire community suffers.
The shooting has also prompted a broader conversation about the role of immigrant workers in Austin’s economy. DoorDash, Uber, and other gig economy companies rely heavily on immigrant labor, and the shooting has raised questions about whether these workers are being adequately protected.
What Comes Next
The investigation into the shooting is expected to take several weeks. In the meantime, Austin city council members have called for a review of ICE’s operations in the city and are considering passing an ordinance that would require ICE to obtain a warrant before making arrests on city property.
The shooting is likely to become a flashpoint in the ongoing national debate over immigration policy, with both sides using the incident to support their positions. For immigration hawks, the incident underscores the dangers that ICE agents face in the line of duty. For immigration advocates, it is a stark example of the human cost of aggressive enforcement tactics.
As the investigation continues, one thing is clear: the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez has exposed the deep divisions in American society over immigration, enforcement, and the rights of undocumented workers. The outcome of the investigation will have far-reaching implications for ICE’s operations and for the future of immigration policy in the United States.
