US Immigration Officer Shoots and Wounds Man During Foot Chase in Austin

Digital Desk, Washington | Tensions are once again high in the US capital of Texas over an immigration crackdown. A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Austin shot and wounded a man during a foot chase. The incident has since sparked protests and calls for an independent investigation. Authorities reported that the injured man was identified as Wilbur Rafael Garces Perez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan national. He was shot in the upper torso and remains in critical condition in the hospital. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said the initial investigation suggests the shooting occurred after a traffic stop in North Austin. However, she clarified that local Austin police were not involved in the operation, but local investigators were on the scene as soon as they learned of the incident. The mayor and in-laws were outraged by the incident, and Mayor Kirk Watson said she was "deeply saddened" by the incident.