An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and wounded a 28-year-old Venezuelan man in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, prompting local officials to call for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The man, identified by his immigration attorney as Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, was shot in the torso during an encounter with federal immigration officers in north Austin, according to local authorities. He was taken to a hospital in serious but stable condition and was later released into federal custody.

Garcés Pérez's attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, said he was working as a DoorDash delivery driver when the incident occurred. She identified him as a Venezuelan national and said his family had struggled to obtain information about his condition and whereabouts following the shooting.

Video footage circulated on social media appeared to show a blue Toyota Corolla colliding with an SUV, followed by several gunshots. The vehicle then moved forward before stopping, according to reports. Local officials said the shooting followed a brief foot pursuit, although authorities have not publicly provided a full account of what led to the use of force.

Austin police said none of their officers were involved in the operation that preceded the shooting. Police Chief Lisa Davis said the man was wounded by a single gunshot to the upper torso.

Dispute over immigration status

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, said the man had entered the United States illegally during the Biden administration and was subject to a final order of removal.

His attorney, however, has disputed the government's account of his immigration history, saying he had legally entered the United States and had a valid work permit. The conflicting accounts have not been fully resolved publicly.

DHS said its Homeland Security Investigations unit would investigate the shooting with assistance from the FBI. Austin police and the Texas Rangers are also expected to investigate, according to local officials.

The case has drawn particular attention because Garcés Pérez was transferred into federal custody after leaving the hospital. His attorney has called for his family to receive timely information about his medical condition and legal status.

Austin officials seek independent investigation

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson called for the city to have a role in the investigation, saying an independent review would provide greater transparency and public confidence.

Watson said Austin residents should know what happened and why, while emphasizing that the city's police department was not involved in the federal operation.

U.S. Representative Greg Casar, whose district includes Austin, also called for Garcés Pérez to remain in the United States while the circumstances of the shooting are investigated. He argued that deporting the wounded man could remove an important witness from the proceedings.

Dozens of protesters gathered near the shooting site on Sunday, where tensions escalated between demonstrators and law enforcement officers. Local reports said officers used chemical irritants or crowd-control projectiles as confrontations developed.

Shooting comes amid increased ICE activity

The Austin shooting comes amid an increase in federal immigration enforcement activity in the Texas capital and follows several other high-profile incidents involving ICE officers.

In June, an ICE officer fatally shot Mexican national Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston during an immigration operation. The Department of Homeland Security later acknowledged that the officer had mistaken Salgado Araujo for another person.

The Austin incident has renewed debate over the use of force by federal immigration agents and the degree of local oversight of their operations.

The incident also comes as the Trump administration continues an expanded immigration enforcement campaign across the United States. The administration has prioritized arrests and deportations of people it says are in the country unlawfully, while civil rights groups and immigration advocates have raised concerns over enforcement tactics and accountability.

The investigation into Sunday's shooting is ongoing, and authorities have not yet released a complete account of what prompted the ICE agent to fire. (ILKHA)