ICE Shooting in Austin Sparks Protest and State Repression
The country is currently experiencing an increased wave of ICE assaults with 50,000 arrests in July and August. After the people of Minneapolis this past winter successfully pushed back against ICE’s surge and occupation, ICE is now primarily employing a tactic of smash and grab. This tactic was utilized recently in Austin Texas, resulting in ICE agents shooting Wilber Garcés Pérez. Miraculously he survived.
ICE Agent Shoots Wilber Garcés Pérez
Wilber Garcés Pérez is a Venezuelan immigrant who entered the US two years ago as an asylum seeker through a federal parole program. This program was ended by the Trump administration after Garcés Pérez’s arrival, throwing into question his immigration status along with countless others. The ending of the program has triggered court hearings that immigrants often miss because they are they are unaware that they are happening. Missing a hearing then results in the issuing of a deportation order unbeknownst to many asylum seekers. This is apparently the case with Garcés Pérez.
The exact sequence of events resulting in the shooting remain unclear and contested. On Sunday September 20, Garcés Pérez was making a delivery for DoorDash. ICE agents attempted to detain Garcés Pérez through a traffic stop. At some point during the interaction, unmarked ICE vehicles smashed into Garcés Pérez’s car. Once Garcés Pérez stopped his car, ICE agents fired into his car with one of the bullets lodging in Garcés Pérez’s back, near his spine.
Garcés Pérez survived the shooting and was taken to Dell Seton Medical Center. Dell Seton is affiliated with and on land owned by the University of Texas, a public university. Though having a bullet lodged in his back and being in significant pain, Garcés Pérez was not given proper medical attention. With the bullet still in his back, Garcés Pérez was moved to the ICE detention center in Pearsall southwest of San Antonio. He was initially held in a cell with no bed and had to sleep on the floor. Not until 11 days later, after much public outcry, was the bullet removed from Garcés Pérez ‘s back. Questions were immediately raised over the collaboration of doctors and state employees with ICE in not operating on Garcés Pérez and not providing information for hours to Garcés Pérez’s wife on his status leaving her fearing he had died.
When news of the ICE shooting spread, protesters gathered at the site in north Austin. Protestors denounced the shooting and demanded accountability from Dell Seton as they peacefully occupied a road intersection. As the protest began to end and protesters were peacefully dispersing, Austin police officers fired tear gas into the crowd that included children. Three people were arrested and charged with rioting. The next day, on the evening of Monday, September 21st, a peaceful protest was held at the state capital.
State Repression Targets Anti-ICE Protestors
In the days following the shooting and protests, Texas state troopers with the cooperation of local law enforcement began arresting people who participated in the Sunday night protest, charging them with rioting based on little evidence. Reports are circulating that there is an affidavit citing twenty persons identified as “engaging in riotous behavior.” Four people were eventually arrested in connection with following the Sunday night protest.
On Saturday September 26, law enforcement surrounded the home of a San Marcos anti-ICE activist and arrested them for their alleged participation in the Sunday night “riot.” Activists in the group Dare to Struggle appear to be a particular target of the police. Earlier that Saturday, state troopers arrested Misael Ramos also on charges of “participating in a riot”.
DSA City Council Candidate Singled Out
Misael Ramos is a community activist and is a candidate for Austin City Council endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). State troopers approached Ramos while he was walking his dog Saturday morning, and according to Ramos asked: “Are you Misael Ramos running for City Council?” When Ramos asked for a warrant, troopers said they did not have it on them and warned Ramos that they would “put down” his dog if it moved toward them. Activists and democratic rights advocates are trying to gather information on any further arrests as local law enforcement and state troopers seem intent on cracking down on people opposing ICE.
The night before Ramos’ arrest he had been a featured speaker at a rally organized by the Texas State Employees Union (TSEU) at the University of Texas to protest the right-wing attacks on higher education in the elimination of programs related to race, ethnicity, gender and sexuality and loss of public sector jobs. The rally was the kickoff event of the TSEU’s general assembly with delegates from gathering from across the state.
The TSEU is a wall-to-wall union representing all state government employees in Texas. News of Ramos’ arrest reached the TSEU assembly while delegates were preparing to meet in their geographic caucuses. The TSEU Central Texas caucus voted to end its meeting early and proceeded to head to the Travis County jail where Ramos was being detained. There, they joined an emergency protest and press conference organized by the Ramos campaign.
Texas State Employees Union Rallies Against ICE Attack
TSEU members rally in defense of Wilber Garcés Pérez and Misael Ramos. Photo by Socialist Horizon-San Marcos.
With very short notice, over 250 people rallied to protest Ramos’ arrest and attend the press conference. Behind a wall of TSEU members and other supporters, the press conference included Ramos’ lawyer, and representatives from the Ramos campaign, the Austin Lawyers Guild, Austin DSA, and the TSEU. Gumbo, co-chair of the Austin DSA, stated, “this is a clear act of political repression and retaliation for Austinites standing up on Sunday after ICE agents shot Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez in the back.”
Speaking for the TSEU, Tom Alter also called out state repression of political activism. “There is a nationwide assault on those fighting for a better future against the daily miseries that capitalism inflicts on us, from the genocide in Palestine to oppose ICE terror in our communities. We stand in solidarity with the Prairieland Defendants, the Minnesota 15, and Michigan 8. Drop the charges against Misael and all those arrested today! End local and state collaboration with ICE!”
Just as the press conference was ending Ramos was released on bond from prison. He addressed the crowd thanking them for their support while reiterating his opposition to ICE raids and repression of local activists. The TSEU members returned to their general assembly. The next day the TSEU adopted a resolution denouncing ICE terror and state employees called for the end of collaboration between the state government and ICE. Local protests have continued demanding Garcés Pérez’s release from the Pearsall ICE detention center.
Tom Alter is a member of Socialist Horizon-San Marcos and the Texas State Employees Union.
