Under President Donald Trump’s second term, confrontations with federal immigration agents have tragically resulted in several shootings and numerous fatalities among detainees.
In the latest incident, a man was shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in north Austin on Sunday. Wilber Rafael Garces Perez was subsequently hospitalized but was released into federal custody by Sunday evening, according to his attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch.
This incident follows the deadly shootings of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston in July and American Ruben Ray Martinez in South Padre Island in March 2025.
Trump’s focus on a strong crackdown on illegal immigration remains a central theme of his 2024 reelection campaign, which he argues is linked to rising violent crime across the nation. Since resuming office, he has initiated mass deportation efforts and stationed thousands of ICE agents nationwide.
Texas has felt the repercussions of Trump’s immigration policies intensely, housing the largest number of migrants in its 23 detention facilities.
According to an analysis of federal detainee death notifications and media reports, at least 14 individuals have died while in ICE custody in Texas since 2025.
Details of the ICE Shooting in Austin
On September 20, an ICE agent shot an adult male following what Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis described as a “small foot pursuit.” Emergency responders were alerted shortly before 1 p.m. regarding a man who had sustained a single gunshot wound to the torso and he was transported to a local hospital.
While officials initially withheld details about the man’s identity, his lawyer later confirmed that Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a 28-year-old from Venezuela, had a valid work permit and had legally entered the United States.
Authorities, including Austin police and Texas Rangers, will investigate the shooting alongside the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The Travis County District Attorney’s office has requested to be closely involved in the investigation, seeking access to evidence that may reveal potential violations of state law.
Understanding the Death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was identified by ICE as an undocumented immigrant from Mexico. Public records indicated that a 52-year-old man by that name had no criminal history in Texas.
The Department of Homeland Security reported that agents were trying to stop Salgado Araujo’s vehicle during a “targeted enforcement operation” in a predominantly Latino area of Houston. His son, Ronaldo Salgado, stated that his father was en route to work when the shooting occurred, suggesting that he might have mistaken the situation for a robbery and would have complied if he had recognized law enforcement.
Found with a gunshot wound to the abdomen, Salgado Araujo later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital, according to ICE. His family revealed that he had been in the U.S. for nearly 35 years and was in the process of applying for a work permit.
Local leaders, including U.S. Representatives Sylvia Garcia and Christian Menefee, alongside the League of United Latin American Citizens, have called for an independent investigation into the shooting.
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare noted in a radio interview that his office is investigating the incident, although challenges in accessing evidence have arisen.
Details Surrounding the Shooting of Ruben Ray Martinez
In March 2025, Ruben Ray Martinez, a 23-year-old American, was shot and killed by an ICE agent in South Padre Island after he allegedly “bumped” an officer with his vehicle. Martinez, a Hispanic man from San Antonio, became the first known American casualty at the hands of immigration agents during Trump’s second term.
During the incident, Martinez and his friend Joshua Orta encountered a car accident and attempted to maneuver through the area. ICE agents claimed they ordered him to stop, but he allegedly struck an officer’s legs, leading to the officers firing multiple shots at him.
Footage released by the Texas Department of Public Safety did not definitively show whether Martinez had made contact with the officers, and a grand jury later opted not to indict the involved officers.
Deaths in ICE Detention Facilities
The increase in deaths among immigrants in ICE detention centers in Texas has sparked criticism regarding the expansion of immigration enforcement. Texas facilities currently house over 18,700 detainees, the highest number in the country.
Since 2025, there have been at least 14 reported deaths of immigrants in ICE custody in Texas. These include fatalities resulting from a shooting at a Dallas detention center and several other incidents involving health complications.
Among those who died, Nhon Nguc Nguyen, a 55-year-old Vietnamese man, passed away from “natural causes” after being held at the El Paso Processing Center. Tien Xuan Phan, also 55 and held at the Karnes County Immigration Processing Center, died in July 2025, with the cause still under investigation.
Other notable cases include Kai Yin Wong, a 63-year-old Chinese man who succumbed to suspected complications from heart surgery, and Francisco Gaspar-Andres, a 48-year-old Guatemalan man who died of liver and kidney failure after being hospitalized for weeks.
Additionally, several detainees have died under suspicious circumstances, with some deaths ruled as homicides or suicides, raising further questions about the treatment of immigrants in custody.
Escalating Tensions with ICE in Texas
In recent years, federal immigration authorities and local law enforcement in Texas have faced increasing aggression. Notably, in September 2025, a man opened fire at an ICE facility in Dallas, resulting in the death of one immigrant and injuring two others before the shooter died by suicide.
In another incident, a group of individuals faced charges after a shooting occurred outside the Prairieland immigration detention center during a July 4 celebration in 2025.
ICE has ramped up its activities in Texas, with arrests more than doubling under Trump’s administration compared to the Biden era. Most of those apprehended do not have criminal records, signaling a shift in enforcement priorities.
Understanding Immigrant Rights
Experts emphasize that immigrants possess certain rights when interacting with authorities under the U.S. Constitution:
- The right to remain silent, stating, “I wish to remain silent.”
- The right to refuse entry to their home without a valid warrant.
- The right to legal representation.
- The right to request an interpreter during removal proceedings.
Immigrants can also inquire about an officer’s identity and agency affiliation, and they have the right to document encounters with law enforcement, which can be crucial for establishing any violations of rights.
In any situation, experts advise immigrants to remain calm to avoid escalation, to have necessary identification documents ready, and to establish a family plan that includes contact information for legal assistance and support networks.
