Austin City Council condemns ICE for shooting Venezuelan man, demands investigation

Austin City Council members on Tuesday condemned Immigration and Customs Enforcement after an ICE agent shot a Venezuelan man during a raid on September 20 in the city’s East Austin neighborhood, and they demanded an independent investigation into the incident. The victim, identified as 31‑year‑old Carlos Mendoza, was shot in the leg while officers attempted to detain him for a pending removal order. He survived but required emergency surgery. The council’s resolution called the use of force “unjustified” and urged state and federal authorities to review the case.

The shooting comes amid growing scrutiny of ICE’s tactics in Texas, where the agency has intensified raids since the Biden administration lifted pandemic‑related limits on immigration enforcement. Critics argue that aggressive operations have escalated tensions with immigrant communities and local officials. Austin, a sanctuary city, has repeatedly pushed back against federal immigration actions, citing concerns over public safety and civil rights. The incident also follows a series of high‑profile confrontations between ICE agents and local law‑enforcement, prompting calls for clearer oversight.

Council members, including Chairwoman Kathie Fritz and Councilor Erika Miller, said the raid violated city policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. They cited a 2022 city ordinance that restricts ICE from conducting enforcement actions in places of worship, schools, and hospitals, and they argued the raid ignored those protections. Community groups, such as the Texas Immigrant Rights Project, demanded transparency, noting that witnesses reported the agent fired without warning. ICE has not yet released a detailed account of the encounter, but the agency’s spokesperson said an internal review is underway.

The council’s resolution urges the Texas Attorney General’s Office to launch an independent probe and asks the Department of Justice to examine ICE’s use‑of‑force protocols. If the investigation finds misconduct, officials say they will consider legal action against the agency. The case is likely to become a flashpoint in the broader debate over immigration enforcement, as local leaders across the state watch to see whether federal authorities will heed calls for accountability.