A federal immigration official shot and injured a man in Austin on Sunday afternoon, according to reports from the Austin American-Statesman. The incident occurred in the 7000 block of West Anderson Lane near U.S. 183 and Research Boulevard. The injured man was transported to a hospital, but his identity and current condition remain unknown. The circumstances leading up to the shooting are not immediately clear, and officials from the Department of Homeland Security, Austin Police Department, and Texas Department of Public Safety have not yet responded to requests for comment.
Democratic Congressman Greg Casar strongly condemned the shooting, stating, "The horror has come to our city: ICE has shot a person in Austin this morning." He called for an immediate and independent investigation, the prompt release of body camera footage, and accountability for any ICE officers who may have broken the law. Casar also accused ICE of a history of dishonesty in previous shooting incidents, emphasizing the need for truth and transparency.
This Austin shooting follows a similar incident on July 7, where a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican national, in Houston. That incident, which occurred during an operation where Araujo allegedly attempted to evade arrest, has drawn significant controversy. Houston Mayor John Whitmire and other Democratic officials have called for an independent investigation into Araujo's death, citing witness statements that contradict ICE's account and frustration with federal control over evidence. Whitmire also noted the absence of body or dashboard cameras on the ICE agents involved in the Houston shooting.
