AUSTIN, Texas – Houston-area Democratic lawmakers joined fellow members of Congress in Austin Thursday for a hearing examining Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s use of force following the shooting of a Venezuelan man last month.
U.S. Reps. Lizzie Fletcher, Sylvia Garcia and Al Green are expected to participate in the forum, hosted by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi, the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, and Rep. Greg Casar, who represents the Austin area.
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The hearing, titled “Seeking Justice in Austin: Oversight of ICE’s Use of Force in the Shooting of Wilber Garcés-Pérez and Across Texas,” is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 15.
Lawmakers plan to hear from representatives for Garcés-Pérez, local officials, community advocates and others about the impact of federal immigration enforcement operations on Texas communities.
What happened in the Austin ICE shooting?
Garcés-Pérez was shot by an ICE officer on Sept. 20 in North Austin. His attorney identified him as a 28-year-old Venezuelan man who was making a DoorDash delivery when the encounter occurred.
He was taken to a hospital and later placed in ICE custody. His attorney said he was shot in the back and needed medical treatment.
Federal officials said the shooting happened during a targeted vehicle stop. The Department of Homeland Security said its Homeland Security Investigations unit was investigating the incident with assistance from the FBI.
The shooting prompted calls from Austin officials and members of Congress for greater transparency and scrutiny of the investigation.
Why the hearing matters for Texas
The congressional forum comes as federal immigration enforcement operations face scrutiny in communities across Texas, including the Houston area.
The hearing is intended to examine ICE’s use of force and allegations of abuse of power, as well as the broader effects of immigration enforcement on Texas communities.
The forum is a congressional oversight hearing, not a court proceeding. The announcement did not indicate that the hearing itself would determine whether the officer involved in the Austin shooting committed a crime.
KPRC 2 will continue to follow developments involving federal immigration enforcement in the Houston area.
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