Texas Bishop Garcia on ICE Shooting in Austin "We cannot allow differences of citizenship to diminish our recognition of the dignity that belongs to every human being."
On Sunday, September 20, 2026, a federal U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot and wounded 28-year-old Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, a Venezuelan migrant, during an enforcement operation in North Austin, Texas. The incident occurred during a traffic stop while Garcés Pérez was working as a delivery driver for DoorDash. The shooting has sparked local protests, vigils, and widespread calls for independent federal investigations. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] Austin Texas Bishop Daniel Garcia released a message on the ICE Shooting in Austin "We cannot allow differences of citizenship to diminish our recognition of the dignity that belongs to every human being."FULL TEXT - A Message from Bishop Garcia regarding today's shooting in North Austin by Bishop Daniel E. Garcia
My dear brothers and sisters,
I am deeply saddened and disturbed by the shooting of a man involving an ICE officer in the city of Austin. We find ourselves in a time in this country and city, when people are living in terror and fear because of the increased activity of ICE agents on our streets. Many people are often being detained only due to the color of their skin or the language they speak. Today the credibility of a federal agency that is supposed to protect us has been weakened by incidences such as the one that took place today.
I ask the faithful of the Diocese of Austin to pray for this man who was shot, his family, for all those who have been affected, all who have been involved and for our entire community. As an investigation begins, let us pray that the Federal, State and City authorities will be transparent and honest about what occurred this afternoon, so that confidence in our governmental entities may be strengthened, not weakened.
The Church continues to cry out for comprehensive immigration reform. We need not forget that regardless of a person’s immigration status, every person is created in the image and likeness of God and possesses an inherent dignity that must always be respected and protected. May God assist us in finding resolve and peace during these troubling times.
We are reminded, during this National Migrant Week, of an essential truth of our faith: we are all brothers and sisters. When one person is harmed, all of us are affected. We cannot allow differences of citizenship to diminish our recognition of the dignity that belongs to every human being.
We continue to call for a viable immigration policy that respects the rule of law while recognizing the dignity of every person.
May God bring healing to those who are suffering, wisdom to those entrusted with responsibility, and peace to all who are affected. May our Lord Jesus calm our hearts and guide us toward a response worthy of our shared humanity. And may God lead us all toward the peace that only Christ provides.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Daniel E. Garcia
Source - https://austindiocese.org/news/a-message-from-bishop-garcia-regarding-todays-shooting-in-north-austin
I am deeply saddened and disturbed by the shooting of a man involving an ICE officer in the city of Austin. We find ourselves in a time in this country and city, when people are living in terror and fear because of the increased activity of ICE agents on our streets. Many people are often being detained only due to the color of their skin or the language they speak. Today the credibility of a federal agency that is supposed to protect us has been weakened by incidences such as the one that took place today.
I ask the faithful of the Diocese of Austin to pray for this man who was shot, his family, for all those who have been affected, all who have been involved and for our entire community. As an investigation begins, let us pray that the Federal, State and City authorities will be transparent and honest about what occurred this afternoon, so that confidence in our governmental entities may be strengthened, not weakened.
The Church continues to cry out for comprehensive immigration reform. We need not forget that regardless of a person’s immigration status, every person is created in the image and likeness of God and possesses an inherent dignity that must always be respected and protected. May God assist us in finding resolve and peace during these troubling times.
We are reminded, during this National Migrant Week, of an essential truth of our faith: we are all brothers and sisters. When one person is harmed, all of us are affected. We cannot allow differences of citizenship to diminish our recognition of the dignity that belongs to every human being.
We continue to call for a viable immigration policy that respects the rule of law while recognizing the dignity of every person.
May God bring healing to those who are suffering, wisdom to those entrusted with responsibility, and peace to all who are affected. May our Lord Jesus calm our hearts and guide us toward a response worthy of our shared humanity. And may God lead us all toward the peace that only Christ provides.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Daniel E. Garcia
Source - https://austindiocese.org/news/a-message-from-bishop-garcia-regarding-todays-shooting-in-north-austin
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