US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Investigation underway
Perez was initially taken to a hospital before being released into ICE custody, according to The Hill.
His lawyer said ICE agents sideswiped his vehicle before an agent opened fire. Lincoln-Goldfinch said Perez did not try to evade the officers and was attempting to find a place to pull over. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said the department would allow evidence, rather than speculation or incomplete information, to guide the investigation. DHS has said Perez is in federal custody pending removal from the country, while his lawyer and Casar have disputed parts of the government’s account of his immigration status.
She alleged that agents did not initially use lights or sirens and that the shooting happened after the vehicles collided. The Department of Homeland Security is leading the investigation into the shooting. US Rep Greg Casar, who represents the Austin area where the shooting occurred, has called for the release of body-camera footage and a full investigation. Dozens of protesters also gathered near the scene, with some carrying Mexican and Guatemalan flags and signs calling for ICE to leave Austin. The shooting comes amid increased scrutiny of ICE operations in the US following several incidents involving federal immigration agents.
Perez was shot on Sunday while making a DoorDash delivery in Austin, Texas.