Tell Congress: Investigate ICE’s Austin Shooting Now

An ICE agent shot a man in Austin, Texas — and the public deserves the full truth.

Wilber Rafael Garces Perez was shot by an ICE officer during an immigration enforcement operation in North Austin. According to his attorney and news reports, Garces Perez was discharged from the hospital after only hours, taken to an ICE detention center with the bullet still in his body, returned to a hospital after severe pain and mobility problems, and then sent back to ICE custody.

Now new reporting says the ICE officer who fired was not wearing a body camera, even though ICE policy reportedly requires officers making arrests to have and activate them. Another ICE officer reportedly had an active body camera, and Austin police have released limited video that helps establish a timeline but does not show the shooting itself.

DHS cannot be the only source of accountability while the man ICE shot remains in federal custody, with a pending court hearing and serious unanswered questions about his medical care, access to counsel, and the evidence.

Tell Congress: Investigate ICE’s shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez in Austin. Subpoena the footage, communications, and use-of-force records, and demand full cooperation with local investigators.

Austin officials are already calling for transparency and a real outside review. But ICE and DHS have a long history of secrecy, obstruction, and internal investigations that leave families and the public without answers.

Congress has the power to force those answers into the open. Lawmakers can hold hearings, subpoena body-camera footage, vehicle footage, dispatch records, radio communications, database searches, medical-transfer records, and use-of-force files. They can question ICE leadership under oath and use budget oversight to stop abuses before more people are hurt.

Add your name now and demand a full investigation into ICE’s shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez in Austin.

The petition to Congress reads: "Investigate ICE’s shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez in Austin. Subpoena all footage, communications, and use-of-force records; require full federal cooperation with local investigators; ensure his family and attorneys receive immediate access and information; and hold every official involved accountable."