Travis County judge urges release and independent investigation after ICE officer shoots asylum seeker

Travis County Judge Andy Brown opened the Sept. 22 Commissioners Court by addressing a recent shooting in Austin involving an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer and a 28-year-old asylum seeker, Wilbur Garces Perez. "This tragic incident is yet another unnecessary case of violence at the hands of Trump's lethal and inhumane immigration tactics," Brown said, and he urged the immediate release of Garces Perez into medical care and an independent investigation that includes reviewing dash and body cameras if they exist.

Brown framed transparency and accountability as essential to public safety: "Travis County deserves to know the truth and if any local or state laws were broken," he said. There was no formal action taken by the court on the matter during the meeting; Brown used his opening remarks to call for community trust in enforcement actions and to urge federal transparency and local review.