Austin ICE Shooting Sparks Outrage from Congressman Greg Casar

Following a shooting involving an ICE agent in North Austin, emotions are still high. Congressman Greg Casar has publicly voiced his anger about the incident, which reportedly occurred as 28-year-old Wilber Garces Perez was making a DoorDash delivery. Perez stated he was almost hit by an ICE SUV before he attempted to pull over. After he requested to be detained, officers allegedly sideswiped his vehicle and later shot him. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Perez is an undocumented immigrant with a final order for removal.

Pena, Casar’s Republican challenger, criticized his response, claiming his actions incite public unrest. She recalled a recent press conference where both Casar and Mayor Kirk Watson expressed outrage over the incident, questioning Casar’s past efforts that she claims undermined police funding. Casar responded to the situation at a LULAC news conference, condemning the federal government’s actions and insisting on accountability.

The investigation is being led by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI, and Casar has called for local authorities to be involved. As the midterm election approaches, he proposed using taxpayer funds to support working-class families instead of excessive federal authority. Pena argued that current taxpayer funding already benefits undocumented immigrants and emphasized the need to prioritize local concerns before considering further immigration.

The 37th congressional district, represented by Casar, has been redrawn but remains Democratic-leaning. Pena is determined to challenge Casar, pushing for a debate as election day nears.