Should Texas DPS charge Austin protesters with riot over the Garces Perez shooting demonstration?
Texas DPS arrested Austin council candidate Misael Ramos on a riot charge over the September 20 protest after an ICE shooting. DPS says video shows him moving barricades and sandbags. His attorney disputes that the protest was a riot.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
This case classifies responses to the decision by Texas DPS to arrest and charge people who took part in the September 20, 2026 protest in North Austin with riot. The protest followed the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez by an ICE officer, which is tracked separately as a [use-of-force case](/cases/should-ice-s-use-of-force-in-the-shooting-of-wilber-rafael-garces-perez-be-condemned-or-condoned). Responses are recorded against the arrests and riot charges. They are not recorded against whether the shooting was justified, and this case does not decide whether any individual committed a crime.
KUT reported (opens in a new tab) that DPS arrested Ramos at about 8:50 a.m. on Saturday while he walked his dog, booked him into the Travis County Jail at 9:31 a.m., and that he was released at about 5 p.m. on a $1,000 bond. The DPS statement (opens in a new tab) says Ramos had a warrant for his actions at the protest and that DPS linked videos it described as showing "some of Ramos' actions." The Statesman reported that the videos appear to show him lifting at least one barricade and a sandbag. CBS Austin (opens in a new tab) reported that DPS had not answered questions about who recorded the videos, whether Ramos was shown a warrant, or why he was arrested six days later.
The Austin Chronicle (opens in a new tab) quoted the probable-cause affidavit for Ramos's arrest, which says he was seen on open-source social media video "dragging a traffic control device and sandbags to obstruct the street." It also quoted language from a second affidavit, read by Austin Lawyers Guild attorney Paul Quinzi, that estimates "upwards of 150 people" were at the protest and "at least 20 people observed performing criminal acts." Quinzi told the Chronicle it is possible that 20 more people were issued arrest warrants, based on that language. The Chronicle said it had asked DPS to confirm the number of riot arrests and had no response when it published.
Records held in this case do not settle whether the protest met the legal definition of a riot or whether the video identifies the people charged. Silence is not a position. A refusal to comment, or the absence of a reply, is recorded only where a source reports it.
Timeline
3 timeline entries on this page. Dates: September 20, 2026 to September 26, 2026
September 2026
3 events
Protest against the Garces Perez shooting takes place in North Austin
Incident
A protest took place in Austin on Sunday, September 20, against the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez by an ICE officer. DPS later cited it as the source of the riot charges: it said people at the protest were captured on camera taking construction barricades, sandbags and other items and trying to obstruct traffic.
[01]KUT: Austin City Council candidate released after arrest tied to ICE protest
Source excerpt
Misael Ramos, a candidate for Austin's District 1 City Council seat, is out of jail after being arrested Saturday by the Texas Department of Public Safety on a charge of participating in a riot, a Class B misdemeanor.
KUT's report on Ramos's Sept. 26 arrest and release. It quotes Ramos, his campaign manager Jeffrey Clemmons and Austin Lawyers Guild attorney Paul Quinzi, and reports video of the arrest filmed by a neighbor. KUT says DPS and the Travis County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. We read the version updated Sept. 26 at 7:19 PM CDT.
KUT: Austin City Council candidate released after arrest tied to ICE protest · KUTParagraphs on Ramos's arrest, the jail press conference and Ramos's account[02]Austin American-Statesman: Austin council candidate Misael Ramos released after arrest tied to ICE protest
Source excerpt
Ramos had an outstanding warrant stemming from his actions during the Sept. 20, 2026, protests in Austin, where he was captured on camera taking construction barricades, sandbags, and other items and attempting to obstruct traffic.
The Statesman reproduces the statement DPS gave it on Saturday evening, Sept. 26, and reports that DPS linked videos it said showed some of Ramos's actions, which the paper says appear to show him lifting at least one barricade and a sandbag. It also carries Ramos's and campaign manager Jeffrey Clemmons's account of the arrest.
Austin American-Statesman: Austin council candidate Misael Ramos released after arrest tied to ICE protest · Austin American-StatesmanParagraphs quoting the DPS statement and Ramos's account of the arrestDPS troopers arrest Misael Ramos on a riot participation charge
Incident
At about 8:45 a.m. CDT on Saturday, September 26, DPS troopers and Criminal Investigation Division agents arrested Misael Ramos, a candidate for Austin City Council District 1, in the 2400 block of Manor Road. DPS said he had an outstanding warrant for his actions at the September 20 protest. Ramos and his campaign say troopers surrounded him while he walked his dog and did not show him a warrant. He was booked into the Travis County Jail at 9:31 a.m. on a Class B misdemeanor charge of riot participation.
[01]KUT: Austin City Council candidate released after arrest tied to ICE protest
Source excerpt
Misael Ramos, a candidate for Austin's District 1 City Council seat, is out of jail after being arrested Saturday by the Texas Department of Public Safety on a charge of participating in a riot, a Class B misdemeanor.
KUT's report on Ramos's Sept. 26 arrest and release. It quotes Ramos, his campaign manager Jeffrey Clemmons and Austin Lawyers Guild attorney Paul Quinzi, and reports video of the arrest filmed by a neighbor. KUT says DPS and the Travis County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. We read the version updated Sept. 26 at 7:19 PM CDT.
KUT: Austin City Council candidate released after arrest tied to ICE protest · KUTParagraphs on Ramos's arrest, the jail press conference and Ramos's account[02]Austin American-Statesman: Austin council candidate Misael Ramos released after arrest tied to ICE protest
Source excerpt
Ramos had an outstanding warrant stemming from his actions during the Sept. 20, 2026, protests in Austin, where he was captured on camera taking construction barricades, sandbags, and other items and attempting to obstruct traffic.
The Statesman reproduces the statement DPS gave it on Saturday evening, Sept. 26, and reports that DPS linked videos it said showed some of Ramos's actions, which the paper says appear to show him lifting at least one barricade and a sandbag. It also carries Ramos's and campaign manager Jeffrey Clemmons's account of the arrest.
Austin American-Statesman: Austin council candidate Misael Ramos released after arrest tied to ICE protest · Austin American-StatesmanParagraphs quoting the DPS statement and Ramos's account of the arrest[03]CBS Austin: Austin City Council candidate Misael Ramos released after riot arrest tied to protest
Source excerpt
I don't know that from what I saw there was any riotous kind of behavior.
CBS Austin's report carries the full DPS statement and quotes Ramos's attorney Skip Davis at the jail press conference. It says DPS had not answered questions about who took the videos and photo, whether Ramos was shown a warrant, or why he was arrested days later, and that the outlet did not obtain the warrant or affidavit because the courthouse was closed Saturday.
CBS Austin: Austin City Council candidate Misael Ramos released after riot arrest tied to protest · CBS AustinParagraphs quoting the DPS statement and attorney Skip DavisRamos is released from the Travis County Jail during a press conference
Reaction
Ramos's campaign, his attorney, the Austin Lawyers Guild and other groups held a press conference outside the Travis County Jail on Saturday afternoon. Ramos was released on a $1,000 personal bond at about 5 p.m. and joined the crowd. Speakers said other people had been arrested this week on riot-related warrants. DPS and the Travis County Sheriff's Office had not responded to KUT's requests for comment when it published.
[01]KUT: Austin City Council candidate released after arrest tied to ICE protest
Source excerpt
Misael Ramos, a candidate for Austin's District 1 City Council seat, is out of jail after being arrested Saturday by the Texas Department of Public Safety on a charge of participating in a riot, a Class B misdemeanor.
KUT's report on Ramos's Sept. 26 arrest and release. It quotes Ramos, his campaign manager Jeffrey Clemmons and Austin Lawyers Guild attorney Paul Quinzi, and reports video of the arrest filmed by a neighbor. KUT says DPS and the Travis County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. We read the version updated Sept. 26 at 7:19 PM CDT.
KUT: Austin City Council candidate released after arrest tied to ICE protest · KUTParagraphs on Ramos's arrest, the jail press conference and Ramos's account[04]The Austin Chronicle: Misael Ramos details arrest for protesting ICE
Source excerpt
Ramos had been arrested this morning and held for close to eight hours on misdemeanor riot charges connected to his participation in a protest against ICE’s shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez in North Austin on Sunday, Sept. 20.
The Chronicle's report from the jail press conference on Sept. 26. Attorney Skip Davis gave the Chronicle copies of the probable-cause affidavit for Ramos's arrest, which it quotes. It also quotes Austin Lawyers Guild spokesperson George Lobb and attorney Paul Quinzi, who read language from a second affidavit. The Chronicle says it asked Texas DPS to verify the number of riot arrests and had not received a response as of publication. The Chronicle's byline block lists two reporters; we credit the photographer and first-listed writer.
The Austin Chronicle: Misael Ramos details arrest for protesting ICE · The Austin ChronicleParagraphs quoting Ramos, attorney Skip Davis, the probable-cause affidavit, George Lobb and Paul Quinzi
Response record
Responses
Latest recorded positions: 3. Dates: September 26, 2026
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
3 responses on this page
Texas Department of Public SafetyDirectly involved "Ramos had an outstanding warrant stemming from his actions during the Sept. 20, 2026, protests in Austin, where he was captured on camera taking construction barricades, sandbags, and other items and attempting to obstruct traffic."
Open source (opens in a new tab)Austin American-Statesman: Austin council candidate Misael Ramos released after arrest tied to ICE protest · Austin American-StatesmanParagraphs quoting the DPS statement and Ramos's account of the arrestOpen source (opens in a new tab)CBS Austin: Austin City Council candidate Misael Ramos released after riot arrest tied to protest · CBS AustinParagraphs quoting the DPS statement and attorney Skip DavisDefended or excusedCase context: Should Texas DPS charge Austin protesters with riot over the Garces Perez shooting demonstration?
Read more
In a statement on the evening of September 26, DPS said troopers and Criminal Investigation Division agents arrested Misael Ramos on an outstanding warrant tied to the September 20 protest. DPS said he was captured on camera taking construction barricades, sandbags and other items and attempting to obstruct traffic, and it linked videos it said showed some of his actions. He was booked on a riot charge.
Role at the time: State law enforcement agency, in a statement to the Austin American-Statesman and CBS Austin
Before the statement
Ramos was arrested at about 8:45 a.m. CDT on Saturday. His campaign said troopers did not show him a warrant.
After the statement
CBS Austin reported that DPS had not answered questions about who recorded the videos, whether Ramos was shown a warrant, or why he was arrested six days after the protest.
Austin American-Statesman: Austin council candidate Misael Ramos released after arrest tied to ICE protest · Austin American-StatesmanParagraphs quoting the DPS statement and Ramos's account of the arrestCBS Austin: Austin City Council candidate Misael Ramos released after riot arrest tied to protest · CBS AustinParagraphs quoting the DPS statement and attorney Skip DavisWhy this label?
Relative to DPS charging people who took part in the September 20 protest with riot, DPS explains the Ramos arrest and riot charge by pointing to video of his conduct. That defends the arrest, so we labeled it Defended or excused.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Austin Lawyers GuildDirectly involved "People have a constitutional right to gather, speak, protest, and criticize the government. ... bogus DPS warrants"
Open source (opens in a new tab)Common Dreams: Austin City Council candidate Misael Ramos arrested after protest against ICE shooting · Common DreamsParagraph quoting George Lobb's statement ahead of the press conferenceOpen source (opens in a new tab)The Austin Chronicle: Misael Ramos details arrest for protesting ICE · The Austin ChronicleParagraphs quoting Ramos, attorney Skip Davis, the probable-cause affidavit, George Lobb and Paul QuinziCondemnedCase context: Should Texas DPS charge Austin protesters with riot over the Garces Perez shooting demonstration?
Read more
George Lobb of the Austin Lawyers Guild said people have a constitutional right to gather, protest and criticize the government, that an arrest does not establish a crime, and that pretrial conditions must comply with the Constitution. At the press conference he called other arrests made this week "bogus DPS warrants" and said one of Ramos's release conditions is that he not join more protests.
Role at the time: Attorney and spokesperson George Lobb for the Austin Lawyers Guild, in a statement ahead of a jail press conference
Before the statement
The statement preceded the Saturday afternoon press conference outside the Travis County Jail, which the Guild joined with Ramos's campaign, the Texas State Employees Union and Austin DSA.
After the statement
The Austin Chronicle asked DPS to verify the number of riot arrests made this week and had no response when it published.
Common Dreams: Austin City Council candidate Misael Ramos arrested after protest against ICE shooting · Common DreamsParagraph quoting George Lobb's statement ahead of the press conferenceThe Austin Chronicle: Misael Ramos details arrest for protesting ICE · The Austin ChronicleParagraphs quoting Ramos, attorney Skip Davis, the probable-cause affidavit, George Lobb and Paul QuinziWhy this label?
Relative to DPS charging protest participants with riot, the Guild asserts a constitutional right to protest and calls other DPS warrants bogus. That opposes the arrests, so we labeled it Condemned.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Misael RamosDirectly involved "That these officers felt emboldened to do this to me, as a candidate on the ballot, speaks volumes to the level of impunity they feel to do this to our neighbors, who are living in fear of these kinds of abductions every day."
Open source (opens in a new tab)Common Dreams: Austin City Council candidate Misael Ramos arrested after protest against ICE shooting · Common DreamsParagraph quoting George Lobb's statement ahead of the press conferenceOpen source (opens in a new tab)KUT: Austin City Council candidate released after arrest tied to ICE protest · KUTParagraphs on Ramos's arrest, the jail press conference and Ramos's accountCondemnedCase context: Should Texas DPS charge Austin protesters with riot over the Garces Perez shooting demonstration?
Read more
Misael Ramos said in a statement from jail that his arrest by state troopers shows the impunity officers feel toward his neighbors, and that he would keep speaking out. His campaign said troopers arrested him while he walked his dog and never showed him a warrant.
Role at the time: Candidate for Austin City Council District 1 and the person arrested, in a statement from jail
Before the statement
Ramos issued the statement while in the Travis County Jail on Saturday, September 26.
After the statement
Ramos was released at about 5 p.m. on a $1,000 personal bond and told the crowd outside the jail that the arrests had to stop.
Common Dreams: Austin City Council candidate Misael Ramos arrested after protest against ICE shooting · Common DreamsParagraph quoting George Lobb's statement ahead of the press conferenceKUT: Austin City Council candidate released after arrest tied to ICE protest · KUTParagraphs on Ramos's arrest, the jail press conference and Ramos's accountWhy this label?
Relative to DPS charging protest participants with riot, Ramos says the arrest shows officers' impunity and that his neighbors live in fear. He criticizes the arrest itself, so we labeled it Condemned.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(5)
Reporting
KUT: Austin City Council candidate released after arrest tied to ICE protest
Relevant passage: Paragraphs on Ramos's arrest, the jail press conference and Ramos's account
Excerpt
"Misael Ramos, a candidate for Austin's District 1 City Council seat, is out of jail after being arrested Saturday by the Texas Department of Public Safety on a charge of participating in a riot, a Class B misdemeanor."
About this source
KUT's report on Ramos's Sept. 26 arrest and release. It quotes Ramos, his campaign manager Jeffrey Clemmons and Austin Lawyers Guild attorney Paul Quinzi, and reports video of the arrest filmed by a neighbor. KUT says DPS and the Travis County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. We read the version updated Sept. 26 at 7:19 PM CDT.
- Author
- Gabriel Velasquez Neira
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Common Dreams: Austin City Council candidate Misael Ramos arrested after protest against ICE shooting
Relevant passage: Paragraph quoting George Lobb's statement ahead of the press conference
Excerpt
"People have a constitutional right to gather, speak, protest, and criticize the government."
About this source
Common Dreams reports a statement from Austin Lawyers Guild attorney and spokesperson George Lobb issued ahead of the Sept. 26 press conference, and Ramos's statement from jail. The article's byline was not captured in our copy.
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
CBS Austin: Austin City Council candidate Misael Ramos released after riot arrest tied to protest
Relevant passage: Paragraphs quoting the DPS statement and attorney Skip Davis
Excerpt
"I don't know that from what I saw there was any riotous kind of behavior."
About this source
CBS Austin's report carries the full DPS statement and quotes Ramos's attorney Skip Davis at the jail press conference. It says DPS had not answered questions about who took the videos and photo, whether Ramos was shown a warrant, or why he was arrested days later, and that the outlet did not obtain the warrant or affidavit because the courthouse was closed Saturday.
- Author
- Vincent Martorano
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Austin American-Statesman: Austin council candidate Misael Ramos released after arrest tied to ICE protest
Relevant passage: Paragraphs quoting the DPS statement and Ramos's account of the arrest
Excerpt
"Ramos had an outstanding warrant stemming from his actions during the Sept. 20, 2026, protests in Austin, where he was captured on camera taking construction barricades, sandbags, and other items and attempting to obstruct traffic."
About this source
The Statesman reproduces the statement DPS gave it on Saturday evening, Sept. 26, and reports that DPS linked videos it said showed some of Ramos's actions, which the paper says appear to show him lifting at least one barricade and a sandbag. It also carries Ramos's and campaign manager Jeffrey Clemmons's account of the arrest.
- Author
- Chaya Tong
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
The Austin Chronicle: Misael Ramos details arrest for protesting ICE
Relevant passage: Paragraphs quoting Ramos, attorney Skip Davis, the probable-cause affidavit, George Lobb and Paul Quinzi
Excerpt
"Ramos had been arrested this morning and held for close to eight hours on misdemeanor riot charges connected to his participation in a protest against ICE’s shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez in North Austin on Sunday, Sept. 20."
About this source
The Chronicle's report from the jail press conference on Sept. 26. Attorney Skip Davis gave the Chronicle copies of the probable-cause affidavit for Ramos's arrest, which it quotes. It also quotes Austin Lawyers Guild spokesperson George Lobb and attorney Paul Quinzi, who read language from a second affidavit. The Chronicle says it asked Texas DPS to verify the number of riot arrests and had not received a response as of publication. The Chronicle's byline block lists two reporters; we credit the photographer and first-listed writer.
- Author
- Brant Bingamon
- Published
- Accessed