The Department of Homeland Security called out dozens of Democrats and members of the media for "spreading lies" about a recent ICE officer-involved shooting in Austin, while a former agency director suggested the political response may be by design.Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan national whom DHS says is an illegal immigrant in the U.S., was shot by an ICE agent during a chase Sunday.Perez was arrested and taken to a nearby hospital, where he was treated and listed in stable condition.
The shooting has prompted protests in Austin and criticism from Democrats.On Tuesday, more than 100 Democratic members of Congress signed a joint letter demanding Perez’s release and saying he "is not receiving the care he needs in detention" and "still has the bullet lodged in his body."In a separate statement, Rep.Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, said "despite losing movement on his left side and having a bullet lodged next to his spine, ICE has forced Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez out of the hospital and back to the South Texas ICE Processing Center." Rep.
Greg Casar, D-Texas, called ICE "liars with masks" and demanded the agency leave Austin.DEM REACTIONS WITHIN MOMENTS OF AUSTIN ICE SHOOTING SPARK VIRAL OUTRAGE LOCALLY, ONLINE: 'DISQUALIFYING'Rep.Greg Casar, D-Texas, speaks during a news conference at the Law Office of Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch in Austin on Monday, Sept.
21, 2026, about the previous day’s shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez by an ICE agent.(Austin American-Statesman/Hearst Newspapers / Contributor via Getty Images)In response, DHS posted on X that "sanctuary politicians and the media wasted no time in spreading lies" and that "no amount of smears and false narratives will slow down ICE from doing its job to arrest illegal aliens from our communities."DHS called the claim that ICE refused to remove the bullet from Perez’s body "false." The agency said ICE "does not and would not advise, nor be the authority on, a medical procedure for an il...