Kirk Watson condemns ICE’s conduct in Austin
Kirk WatsonMayor of Austin, Texas
Watson condemned the shooting as part of what he called ICE’s rogue conduct and the chaos created by the agency.
“With the rogue nature of ICE and the chaos we’re seeing fomented by ICE, there’s no reason to be surprised.”
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?
On September 20, 2026, an ICE officer shot and wounded Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan national working as a DoorDash driver, during an immigration enforcement operation in North Austin, Texas. He was taken to Dell Seton Medical Center in serious but stable condition and later transferred into ICE custody. Garces Perez says an unmarked SUV struck his vehicle before he realized the people pursuing him were immigration officers, that he asked an agent if he could stop somewhere safer than under a freeway overpass, and that he was shot after the agent refused. On September 29, federal prosecutors charged him with assaulting and resisting a federal officer. In a sworn affidavit, they say he refused commands to get out of his car and drove off, hitting an officer with his side mirror, and that after a brief chase one officer says Garces Perez tried to hit him with the car, and the officer fired. DHS has confirmed the shooting and said Garces Perez was subject to a final removal order. The dispute is whether the use of force against him was justified.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
ABC News report on Garces Perez’s account, DHS’s limited statement and Austin Mayor Kirk Watson’s response to the shooting.
Before the quotation
Watson responded after an ICE officer shot Garces Perez during an enforcement operation in Austin.
After the quotation
He said Austin residents had a right to know what happened and to feel safe in their community.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The mayor characterizes ICE as rogue and directly links the shooting to agency-created chaos.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
More from this case
Read the full caseKate Lincoln-Goldfinch criticizes ICE violence and medical care in the Garces Perez case
“This case really highlights the violence that we see with ICE on the streets and the bad medical care that people get in immigration detention.”Read statement
Lincoln-Goldfinch criticizes ICE oversight after Garces Perez's surgery
“His case demonstrates the dangers of giving an agency enormous resources and enforcement power without adequate oversight and accountability.”Read statement
Casar demands all footage from the Garces Perez shooting
“Secretary Mullin keeps making promises while his agents keep shooting people. Secretary Mullin must release every second of footage from that scene, so we can know the truth.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Kirk Watson condemns ICE’s conduct in Austin". First published: 2026-09-22. Last updated: 2026-09-22. https://disputeindex.com/events/1504-watson-condemned-the-shooting-as-part-of-what