James Talarico on Law Enforcement

Disputes over the policies, conduct, and oversight of law enforcement agencies.

How we classify topics

Counts show individual statements. They do not assign an overall position.

Statement history

3 statements on this page. Dates: September 1, 2026 to September 21, 2026

3 matching statements. Dates: September 1, 2026 to September 21, 2026

3 published statements. Dates: September 1, 2026 to September 21, 2026

Condemned

3 published statements. Dates: September 1, 2026 to September 21, 2026

3 statements on this page. Dates: September 1, 2026 to September 21, 2026

James Talarico

Role at the time: Texas state representative and U.S. Senate candidate, in a post on X

September 21, 2026Condemned

Statement summary

James Talarico, a Texas state representative running for U.S. Senate, said Garces Perez entered the country legally and had no criminal record, that he was shot anyway, and that he slept on a cell floor with a bullet still in his back, unable to move his left side. Talarico called this "lawlessness," not law enforcement.

“Wilber came to this country legally. He has no criminal record. An ICE agent shot him anyway. He slept on a prison cell floor with a bullet still lodged in his back. He can't move the left side of his body. This isn't law enforcement. It's lawlessness.”

Read the original postJames Talarico posts on Garces Perez's shooting and condition · James TalaricoFull text of the post.

James Talarico's own X post, quote-posting Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch's update on Garces Perez's condition, adding that he entered the country legally, has no criminal record, and calling the shooting lawlessness rather than law enforcement.

Why we used this label

Talarico directly rejects the shooting as lawful conduct, condemning it rather than disputing only how it has been characterized or focusing solely on custody conditions.

Read statement Full case: Should ICE's use of force in the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez be condemned or condoned?

James Talarico

Role at the time: Texas state representative and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate

September 21, 2026Condemned

Statement summary

James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas, said in a statement on the Austin shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez that previous incidents have shown that "this agency" cannot be trusted to report all the facts. He called for a full, independent investigation that includes the release of any and all available footage.

“Previous incidents have shown that this agency cannot be trusted to report all the facts We need a full, independent investigation that includes the release of any and all available footage.”

Open sourceAfter Austin ICE shooting, officials demand body-camera footage and outside investigation · Austin American-StatesmanSection headed "James Talarico calls for independent investigation, sends prayers"

Austin American-Statesman report published the day after the shooting, collecting reactions from elected officials and advocacy groups. Its section on Talarico quotes his call for an independent investigation.

Archived copy

Why we used this label

The case asks whether DHS should lead the investigation of the shooting. Talarico said previous incidents have shown that "this agency" cannot be trusted to report all the facts, and that the shooting needs a full, independent investigation with any available footage released. That calls for an investigation independent of the agency involved, so we labeled it Condemned.

Read statement Full case: Should DHS lead the investigation of the ICE shooting of a delivery driver in Austin?

James Talarico

Role at the time: 2026 Texas U.S. Senate candidate

September 1, 2026Condemned

Statement summary

James Talarico said Flock cameras should not operate in Texas, citing their ability to reconstruct a person's movements.

“Flock cameras have no place in Texas.”

Read the original postJames Talarico Bluesky statement on Flock camerasPost beginning Flock cameras have no place in Texas; corroborated by AP reporting

Post beginning Flock cameras have no place in Texas; corroborated by AP reporting

Archived copy

Why we used this label

The reference point is whether networked license-plate reader systems such as Flock should exist and be used. Talarico said Flock cameras have no place in Texas, citing their ability to reconstruct a person's movements. Saying the cameras should not operate in the state is a call to end the network, so Condemned fits.

Read statement Full case: Should Flock-style license-plate surveillance networks exist?