Casar says any DHS narrative of the shooting must be viewed with deep skepticism
Greg CasarU.S. Representative (D-TX 35), in a letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting ICE Director David Venturella
Casar wrote that DHS has repeatedly lied about the facts after violent encounters involving agents and blamed victims, and that any DHS narrative about the Austin shooting must be viewed with deep skepticism and an independent investigation conducted.
“As a result, any narrative from DHS regarding this shooting must be viewed with deep skepticism and an independent investigation must be conducted.”
Official statement
Official statement
Reporting
Other statements by Greg Casar in this case
- Casar says ICE has lied in virtually every single caseLater: Condemned
Where this statement fits
Should DHS lead the investigation of the ICE shooting of a delivery driver in Austin?
On September 20, 2026, according to Austin officials, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and wounded Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan DoorDash driver, in North Austin, Texas. DHS said Homeland Security Investigations, with FBI assistance, would lead the investigation and described him as an “illegal alien” with a final order of removal who is in federal custody pending removal. His attorney disputes that he entered illegally and says he has a valid work permit. Austin's mayor, Democratic members of Congress and the League of United Latin American Citizens question DHS's and ICE's credibility and have called for an independent investigation. Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican, repeated DHS's description of the man. On September 29, federal prosecutors charged him with assaulting and resisting a federal officer, and the U.S. Attorney's Office said ICE's Homeland Security Investigations is investigating that case.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
Casar's September 20, 2026 letter demanding an independent investigation of the Austin shooting, release of footage, and a congressional briefing by September 28.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Official statement
About this source
Casar's press release announcing the September 20, 2026 letter to DHS and ICE. Published 7:23 p.m. Eastern on September 20.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
About this source
NBC News report on DHS's statement, the attorney's account, and a senior administration official's statement that the man had no criminal history beyond being in the country illegally.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
An ICE officer shot and wounded a man in Austin on September 20. Casar addressed the letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting ICE Director David Venturella the same day.
After the quotation
The letter also demands that the agent be suspended and remain in Austin, that ICE release complete and unedited footage and preserve evidence, and that DHS brief Congress by Monday, September 28.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to DHS's handling of the shooting, including its account and the question of who investigates, Casar expressly rejects the reliability of any DHS narrative and demands an independent inquiry. Closest competing label: “Challenged the characterization” loses because he criticizes DHS's conduct and credibility, not one description.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
More from this case
Read the full caseAustin Council Member Vanessa Fuentes says local law enforcement should join the ICE shooting investigation
“ICE cannot investigate itself, and so it’s important that we have our local law enforcement agency involved in that investigation”Read statement
Travis County DA Garza says the federal government has not shared evidence with Austin police on the ICE shooting
“So far, the information has been flowing from the Austin Police Department to federal law enforcement officials, and as we sit here today, three days away from this shooting, it is incredibly important that the information start to flow both ways To my knowledge, at this point, the federal government has not shared any evidence with the Austin Police Department, and importantly, has not responded to a request from the Austin Police Department to be able to participate in or be allowed to interview the ICE agent who discharged his weapon here in Travis County this past Sunday”Read statement
Castro calls for an independent investigation of the Austin ICE shooting
“There must be an independent investigation, and the ICE officers who shot Wilber in the back should be held accountable.”Read statement
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- Casar says any DHS narrative of the shooting must be viewed with deep skepticism
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The Dispute Index. "Casar says any DHS narrative of the shooting must be viewed with deep skepticism". First published: 2026-09-21. Last updated: 2026-09-21. https://disputeindex.com/events/1343-casar-wrote-that-dhs-has-repeatedly-lied-about