Cuellar calls for a “thorough and independent investigation” and DHS transparency
Henry CuellarU.S. Representative for Texas's 28th congressional district and Ranking Member, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, on his official X account
On X, Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) said he was "very concerned" about the shooting, called for "a thorough and independent investigation," and, citing his role as Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, said he has made DHS transparency a priority.
“I am very concerned about reports of an ICE-involved shooting in Austin, Texas. There needs to be a thorough and independent investigation into this incident. As Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, I have made it a priority to ensure transparency within DHS. I look forward to receiving answers in a timely manner on this situation.”
Original post
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
Original post
About this source
Cuellar's post on his official X account (@RepCuellar), linking a New York Times report. The post is timestamped 22:56:00 UTC.
Before the quotation
Cuellar posted the evening of the shooting, linking a New York Times report on the incident.
After the quotation
Cuellar represents a South Texas border district and has taken more moderate positions on immigration enforcement than some Democratic colleagues.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to DHS's decision to have its own component lead the investigation into the shooting, Cuellar calls for an investigation that is independent of DHS rather than accepting DHS's own component leading it, and frames DHS transparency as something he must press for. This tracks the case's existing convention for measured calls against self-investigation (see LULAC's statement, similarly recorded as condemns), even though Cuellar's tone does not criticize ICE's credibility directly.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
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“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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The Dispute Index. "Cuellar calls for a “thorough and independent investigation” and DHS transparency". First published: 2026-09-22. Last updated: 2026-09-22. https://disputeindex.com/events/1421-on-x-rep-henry-cuellar-d-texas-said