DHS further stated that Perez “illegally entered our country under the Biden administration and had a final order of removal, during a law enforcement operation today in Austin, TX,”
The agency said Perez survived the shooting and was in stable condition while being held by federal authorities.
“The illegal alien’s condition is stable, and he is in federal custody pending removal,” DHS posted.
“This is a developing situation, and we will update the public when more information becomes available,” the post said.
The shooting happened around midday Sunday. Perez was transported to a hospital for treatment and was later released into ICE custody. Reuters reported Tuesday that Perez says a bullet remains lodged in his back, while his attorney has raised concerns about his medical treatment following his transfer to immigration custody.
The circumstances leading to the shooting are now at the center of the investigation.
Initial accounts indicated that Perez fled from immigration agents, with reports describing a pursuit that ended with an officer opening fire. Austin police officials said a foot pursuit may have occurred, but the precise sequence of events was not immediately clear.
Perez has offered a substantially different account.
According to his attorney, Perez was working as a DoorDash driver when an unmarked vehicle allegedly sideswiped his car. Perez said he initially did not realize the people inside were federal immigration agents. He told his attorney that after a second interaction involving the vehicle, agents identified themselves and he asked whether he could pull over somewhere safer. He says he was then shot.
His attorney has called for the release of body-camera and other evidence from the incident. FOX 7 Austin reported that the attorney’s account disputes the existence of a foot chase, while federal authorities have described a pursuit.
That disagreement is likely to become a central issue as investigators reconstruct the confrontation.
The shooting quickly drew protesters into the streets of Austin. Demonstrators gathered near the scene, carrying flags, shouting and displaying anti-ICE messages. Video from the protests showed a large crowd surrounding the area following the shooting.
The atmosphere became increasingly tense as protesters confronted law enforcement officers responding to the gathering. Local reporting showed demonstrations continuing after news of the shooting spread.
The incident also prompted calls for an investigation involving local authorities rather than relying solely on federal investigators.
The Travis County District Attorney’s Office said it wants an independent examination of the shooting and argued that its office and the Austin Police Department should participate alongside federal investigators.
“We further request cooperation from the federal government in giving us access to the evidence. As has occurred in other jurisdictions, it is possible that this incident included violations of state law,” the office said in a statement.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson also called for the Texas Rangers and Austin police to investigate the incident. Reuters reported that Watson has sought local participation in the investigation rather than leaving the matter exclusively to federal authorities.
For federal officials, however, the case centers in part on Perez’s immigration status and an existing removal order. DHS maintains that he was in the country unlawfully and was subject to deportation.
Perez’s legal team contests that description. His attorneys say he entered the United States through the CBP One system in 2024, applied for asylum and later obtained a work permit. They contend that an immigration hearing notice was sent to an old address after he had updated his information, resulting in an in-absentia removal order.
The competing accounts leave several important questions unresolved, including exactly how the vehicle encounter began, whether Perez attempted to flee, what instructions agents gave him, and what immediately preceded the shooting.
Those questions are now the subject of multiple investigations.
What began as a federal immigration enforcement operation has therefore become a major flashpoint in Austin, with federal authorities defending the existence of a removal order, Perez’s attorneys challenging key portions of the government’s account, and local officials demanding access to the evidence.
As investigators examine witness accounts, video footage and other evidence, the precise circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unsettled.
