Austin ICE Shooting: Garces Perez Needs Surgery as Casar Presses for His Release
Four days after an ICE officer shot Wilber Rafael Garces Perez during a DoorDash delivery run in North Austin, the case has escalated into a national flashpoint over immigration enforcement, medical care in detention, and use of force by federal agents.
The victim’s condition
Garces Perez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan asylum seeker, was shot in the torso on Sunday, September 20, with the bullet lodging near his spine. He was released from an Austin hospital after roughly four hours and transferred more than 130 miles to the South Texas ICE Processing Center in Pearsall — reportedly still in his hospital gown. His attorney and family say he has since lost sensation on his left side.
Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch is representing Perez and his family.
On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Greg Casar visited him at the Pearsall facility and reported that a specialist had finally examined Garces Perez that day and recommended surgery to remove the bullet. Casar said his constituent was in a wheelchair, his left arm in a sling, with heavy bruising on his torso, and that he had only received his first injection of pain medication about an hour before the visit. Medical staff, Casar said, have been cleaning the wound two to three times a day, but the family has not yet decided whether to proceed with surgery.
Political reaction
Casar, joined by Rep. JoaquĂn Castro, called on ICE to release Garces Perez to receive outside medical care, saying “let Wilber out of detention and release him to his doctors.”
More than 100 Democratic members of Congress have signed a letter demanding his release, arguing he is a key witness to his own shooting and should not be deported before an investigation concludes.
Immigration advocates, including LULAC, have echoed that call, and a federal judge has already blocked his deportation, setting a hearing for September 30.
The Department of Homeland Security has pushed back on claims of neglect, saying Garces Perez has received “around-the-clock medical care,” including pain medication, and disputing accounts that he was forced to sleep on the floor.
DHS notes he had a final removal order and entered the country without legal status.
Republican officials, while not commenting directly on this case, have continued to defend aggressive border and interior enforcement more broadly — has touted Texas’s border wall construction as a security success.
The ICE agent involved has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI.
Sources:
- CBS News Austin (KEYE), “‘He needs surgery’: Rep. Greg Casar visits Venezuelan man shot by ICE at detention center,” Sept. 23, 2026
- The Texas Tribune, “Venezuelan man shot by ICE officer needs surgery to remove the bullet, U.S. Rep. Greg Casar says,” Sept. 23, 2026
- Austin American-Statesman, “Recap: APD details investigation, federal coordination after ICE shooting,” Sept. 22, 2026
- CBS News, “Man shot by ICE in Austin being held in detention center with bullet in his back, lawyer says,” Sept. 22, 2026
- NBC News, “ICE officer shoots Venezuelan man delivering food in Austin, lawyer says,” Sept. 20–21, 2026
- KUT (Austin NPR), “Austin man shot by ICE will not face immediate deportation,” Sept. 22, 2026
- Associated Press via AP News wire (Wokv/Action News Jax/KIRO7), “Congressman says Venezuelan man shot by ICE then taken into custody told he needs surgery,” Sept. 23, 2026
Four people are dead across the Austin area after a violent Wednesday.
The Travis County Sheriff’s Office says two women were found dead inside a Wells Branch-area apartment in what investigators believe was a murder-suicide. And in Austin, police are investigating two separate, unrelated homicides less than an hour apart — a man shot inside an East Austin apartment complex on Springdale Road, and a second man found dead in a South Austin front yard.
No arrests have been made in either Austin case.
CAPITAL AREA CRIME STOPPERS
Austin City Council Preview: What’s on the Agenda for Thursday, September 24
Austin City Council convenes today at 10:00 AM at City Hall with proclamations kicking things off at 9:00 AM. It’s a packed docket — nearly 100 items — ranging from routine contract renewals to zoning fights, eminent domain acquisitions, and a Barton Springs Zone development dispute.
Morning Proclamations
Council opens the day recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month, Cathy McHorse Day, Opioid Awareness Day, Fall Prevention Awareness Day, and National Police Women Day.
Big-Ticket Budget Items
Two large financing resolutions stand out. Council will consider declaring its intent to reimburse itself with $131.68 million in future tax-exempt bond proceeds for building renovations, a Waller Creek park, citywide mobility improvements, animal services upgrades, and technology projects.
A proposal by the City to invest $1.3 million in a new, permanent pipe system for the FM812 landfill to manage “leachate,” or contaminated liquid—colloquially referred to as “trash juice” is on the agenda today.
Separately, Austin Water is seeking authorization for up to $525 million in tax-exempt financing for water and wastewater capital projects, and Austin Energy is asking for a similar declaration covering $876 million for electric utility capital improvements in Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
Contracts Worth Watching
The consent agenda is loaded with major contracts, including:
- Two enterprise software deals with Clariti Cloud, Inc. — one for permitting software (up to $28.1 million) and another for case management systems (up to $31.2 million)
- Five distribution electrical services contracts for Austin Energy worth up to $200 million
- Seven telecom contracts with AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Charter worth up to $62 million
- A $69.7 million consolidated behavioral health and homelessness services agreement with Integral Care
- A $2.7 million cold-weather shelter agreement with Family Endeavors
Land, Parks, and Easements
Council will consider acquiring 6.579 acres near Slaughter Creek for park purposes, and separately authorizing an easement to support a battery storage project tied to Austin Energy and Jupiter Power.
Several eminent domain items also appear on the agenda, tied to relocating transmission structures along East 38 ½ Street and Dean Keeton Street to accommodate TxDOT’s I-35 Capital Express expansion, plus a waterline easement acquisition near Loop 360 and Lakewood Drive.
Council-Sponsored Items
Council members are bringing forward several fee waivers and community-focused measures, including waived right-of-way fees (up to $541,314) to help build 100 units of deeply affordable housing at “The Bloom at Lamar Square,” plus fee waivers for community events like Chicano Park Day, Torch Literary Arts’ 20th anniversary, and a car show celebration. Council Member Vanessa Fuentes is also sponsoring a resolution directing staff to explore expanding automated external defibrillator (AED) requirements in public spaces and businesses.
Zoning and Public Hearings
The 2:00 PM zoning docket is extensive, with rezoning cases touching West 35th Street, Nuckols Crossing Road, Springdale Road, and a contested case at 2117 West 49th Street/4709 Rosedale Avenue (where AISD is seeking multifamily zoning against a valid opposition petition).
Also up: a disannexation request on South Quinlan Park Road, a floodplain variance on Denfield Street, and — likely the day’s most closely watched item — a site-specific amendment to the Save Our Springs Ordinance for a Barton Springs Zone property at 5811 Southwest Parkway, plus a related amendment affecting nearly 246 acres in the Circle C area near Mopac and Highway 45.
FINAL AGENDA
Public Comment
At noon, residents are signed up to speak on topics ranging from utility billing practices and homelessness to immigration support, scooter regulations near UT Austin, and concerns about Google Fiber’s future in the city.
Pflugerville water customers are being asked to temporarily reduce water use today.
A group of flood survivors from Big Sandy Creek traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for FEMA individual assistance and rebuild grants.
PODCAST
Patrick and Kathy Terry, the founders of P. Terry’s, talk about the origins of their beloved local business, why they’ve remained independent, and where they’re eating out in Austin when they’re not having a burger.Â
Plus, KUT News Government Accountability Reporter Andrew Weber gives us an update on the ICE shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez in Austin Sunday. Finally, the Texas Tribune’s Kerri Qunell previews who Austinites can expect to hear from during the Texas Tribune Festival.
(Episode from September 23, 2026)
Austin Bergstrom International Airport is in line for a new private terminal. (Austin Business Journal)
Though KXAN Investigators were able to catch a ride in a Cybercab Wednesday using the Robotaxi app, the state license Tesla needs to operate the ride share service expired in August, according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
WEATHER
WEDNESDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERSGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
PRECIPITATION
The airport only saw a trace of rain Wednesday while Camp Mabry recorded .14 inches.
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Texas executed 41-year-old Ker’Sean Olajuwa Ramey by lethal injection Wednesday evening for his role in a 2005 triple murder during a home robbery in rural Texas.
Ramey was pronounced dead at 6:34 p.m. at the state penitentiary in Huntsville, making him the sixth person executed by the state this year and following the execution of his co-defendant, LeJames Norman, just one week prior. The execution was carried out shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court denied a final request to stay the sentence. (Texas Tribune)
A Texas Department of Safety online system error delayed tens of thousands of voter applications, some dating back at least a year.
A massive $100 million ad blitz, shifting suburban battlegrounds, and polling tightly deadlocked or favoring the challenger have transformed the high-stakes Texas U.S. Senate race between Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democratic State Representative James Talarico into one of the country’s most fiercely contested battlegrounds.
Key Developments in the Race
- GOP Launches Massive Spending Surge: The Senate Leadership Fund aligned with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, escalated its commitment to $100 million in ad buys. The unprecedented blitz aims to fortify Paxton after his tough primary battle against incumbent Senator John Cornyn.
- Polling Leans Competitive: Recent polling tracks a tight, neck-and-neck contest. Surveys from sources like Fox 26 Houston and KERA News highlight Talarico maintaining narrow leads or running within margin-of-error distance, fueled by strong support among independent and suburban voters.
- Contrasting Platforms on Affordability: Both campaigns have made economic pressures the central debate topic. Paxton is promoting federal tax deductions, expanded child tax credits, and “Trump Accounts”, while Talarico focuses on wage growth, lowering health care costs, and targeting corporate price gouging.
- Suburban Voting Dynamic: Operational focus has shifted heavily to North Texas suburbs (such as Collin, Denton, and Tarrant counties), where high turnout and candidate preference will likely decide the overall margin.
For live election updates, official polling locations, and voting requirements, check official election portals through the Texas Secretary of State Elections Division.
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Meanwhile, the social media war of words and accusations continue…
A major DPS failure has left an unknown number of Texas voter registration applications and updates stranded for nearly a year, and the state has dumped tens of thousands of records onto already-overburdened county election offices just weeks before the election. Under pressure, counties must now sort and verify the backlog, while ensuring old or duplicate information doesn’t overwrite newer voter records. As this DPS failure dates back to October of 2025 (at least), it may already have affected primary voters in March and May. With the scope still unknown and state assistance limited, this terribly-timed failure creates additional uncertainty and a hightened risk for administrative errors – in short, it’s a trainwreck.
In a landmark constitutional ruling, a federal judge ordered the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to install air conditioning across its entire state prison system by December 31, 2029.
A Gathering of World War II Heroes event, organized by The War Remembered oral history project and hosted at the Texas Military Forces Museum on Camp Mabry in Austin, was held this past weekend.
From their experiences on the battlefront to their time reacclimating to civilian life, each participant — not one under 100 years old — had something to say about the war and how it’s remembered. (Texas Standard)
SPORTS
MLB: Neither the Texas Rangers nor the Houston Astros seem willing to take control of the American League West.
Both Texas rivals missed crucial opportunities to gain ground last night, leaving the two clubs deadlocked at 78-80 with just four games remaining in the regular season. The parallel missteps keep the high-stakes pennant race on a razor’s edge heading into the final stretch, though Houston maintains a critical edge: because the Astros hold the head-to-head tiebreaker, they still control their own postseason destiny despite the collapse.
With the AL Wild Card picture leaving virtually no safety net, both teams enter the final weekend knowing a single mistake could cost them the division crown and end their season.
ON THE SCHEDULE
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Several games of note in the ATX tonight.
Lake Travis vs. McNeil
- Time: 7:00 PM
- Location: Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex
- Details: Top-ranked Lake Travis takes on McNeil at Kelly Reeves Stadium.
Pflugerville Weiss vs. Killeen Shoemaker
- Time: 7:00 PM
- Location: Searles Stadium (Killeen)
Pflugerville Connally vs. Killeen
- Time: 7:00 PM
- Location: The P-field (Pflugerville)
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: The top-ranked Texas Longhorns are finalizing preparations for a high-stakes SEC showdown Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium, where head coach Steve Sarkisian’s squad faces a grueling road environment against the No. 14 Tennessee Volunteers.
Focusing heavily on silent-count execution to combat the expected 100,000-plus rowdy fans in Knoxville, Texas enters the matchup aiming to maintain its undefeated rhythm and protect its national ranking against a potent Volunteers offense. Kickoff is set for 11:00 AM CT on Saturday.
Football season is just revving into high gear as we head into October, but Longhorns fans know baseball season is not far off.
Two fans explore the team’s news high-tech training areas, including the Rocket Pitching Lab. They also checkout the iconic field, the dugout, and the Yeti Yard.
