The ICE Officer in Austin Wasn’t Wearing a Body Cam
An ICE officer involved in a shooting incident in Austin, Texas, was not wearing a body camera, despite agency requirements. The officer, a recent hire from another federal agency, shot a Venezuelan man who sustained a bullet wound.
Why it matters
This incident raises serious questions about law enforcement accountability, transparency, and adherence to agency policies, particularly regarding the use of force by federal immigration officers. The lack of body camera footage can hinder investigations and erode public trust.
The officer who shot a Venezuelan man was hired last year from another federal law-enforcement agency.
Brandon Bell / Getty September 22, 2026, 12:29 PM ET Share Save T he ICE officer who shot a Venezuelan man last weekend in Austin, Texas, was a recent hire who was not wearing his body camera, three officials at the Department of Homeland Security with knowledge of the incident told me. The officer, who has not been publicly identified, was hired last year, according to two of the officials, but he previously worked for another federal law-enforcement agency, one of the officials said. The officials were not authorized to discuss the investigation into the shooting, which left Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez with a bullet lodged in his upper torso, according to his attorney.
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