An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and wounded a man during an encounter in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, drawing protests and calls for an independent investigation amid the Trump administration’s intensified deportation campaign.

The incident occurred shortly before 1 p.m. on the city’s north side after a traffic stop that led to a brief pursuit. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said the man was shot once in the torso and taken to a hospital in serious but stable condition. City officials said Austin police were not involved in the operation.

A lawyer identified the injured man as Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, 28, a Venezuelan national who she said had a valid work permit and entered the United States legally. He was later released from the hospital into what his attorney described as ICE custody. Local officials and Rep. Greg Casar, a Democrat who represents parts of Austin, demanded body-camera footage and a full probe. “The horror has come to our city,” Casar said. Protesters gathered at the scene under a highway overpass where a damaged blue Toyota Corolla showed apparent bullet holes.

The shooting is the latest involving federal immigration agents as the administration expands enforcement operations. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said he wants city police involved to provide independent oversight. Federal agencies had not publicly detailed the circumstances by early Monday.

In New York, President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Mayor Zohran Mamdani at Gracie Mansion on Monday, the first such meeting on the mayor’s home turf. The sit-down comes as Trump visits the city for the United Nations General Assembly, where he is set to speak Tuesday. City Hall said the discussion will focus on issues affecting New Yorkers. The two have met previously at the White House despite sharp public differences over immigration and other policies.

Trump also announced Sunday that his proposed 250-foot triumphal arch near the Lincoln Memorial would incorporate a “top-grade military complex” capable of housing drones, snipers and ammunition. A federal court is already examining the project’s legality. The president framed the addition as necessary for national security.

The White House separately barred reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the grounds following Trump’s announcement citing their coverage, an escalation in the administration’s disputes with parts of the press. Outlets are expected to challenge the restrictions.

Elsewhere, Pennsylvania is confronting the nation’s largest measles outbreak in decades, with more than 700 confirmed cases. Some communities have rushed to vaccinate while others remain opposed. Farmers in the Midwest continue to face record diesel prices and inflation pressures as midterm elections approach. Trump is also navigating ceasefire talks involving Iran, a potential meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week, and a reported security arrangement with Denmark over Greenland.

These stories unfold against a backdrop of high-stakes politics, with midterms weeks away and questions of immigration enforcement, media access, public health and foreign policy dominating national attention.

ICE Shooting in Austin, Trump-Mamdani Meeting Top U.S. News Sept. 21

An ICE agent shot a man in Austin amid protests over immigration enforcement. Trump meets NYC Mayor Mamdani today, proposes military features for a D.C. arch, and bars some media from the White House as midterms near.

Arizona:

Deadly Casa Grande Shooting, Cardinals Home Opener Loss Lead Arizona Headlines

An 18-year-old man was shot and killed outside a house party in Casa Grande early Sunday, prompting a homicide investigation and public appeals for information as police released security video of the gunfire.

Joseph Castro was found with multiple gunshot wounds outside a home near Trekell and Rodeo roads after officers responded around 1:20 a.m. to reports of shots fired. He died at the scene. Casa Grande police said no suspects had been identified as of Sunday evening and asked anyone with information to contact Detective Brandon Garcia. Security footage captured 19 gunshots during the incident. The shooting is one of several recent violent episodes in the Pinal County city, including a Sept. 14 incident that wounded a 10-year-old girl.

In the Valley, violence also marked the weekend. A fight outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger after midnight Sunday led to gunfire that injured one man; police were searching for a suspect. In west Phoenix, two people were hospitalized after a double shooting. A fight at a family gathering outside the Prescott Valley Moose Lodge left a 53-year-old man dead and a 20-year-old in custody. A pedestrian was critically injured after being struck by a vehicle in Surprise.

On the sports front, the Arizona Cardinals dropped their home opener 31-7 to the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. Backup quarterback Drew Lock threw three touchdown passes, all to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who finished with nine catches for 155 yards. The Cardinals managed just 151 total yards and have now lost eight straight home games. Fans mixed excitement over a new season with frustration after the lopsided defeat. The University of Arizona Wildcats basketball team, ranked No. 1, completed a perfect nonconference slate with a win over South Dakota State.

Elsewhere across the state, Peoria Unified School District launched a new model at Cactus High School that brings seventh- and eighth-graders onto the high school campus for earlier access to advanced courses and career certifications. Flagstaff Pulliam Airport received an $800,000 federal grant aimed at attracting nonstop flights to Denver or Salt Lake City. Grand Canyon National Park announced tentative dates to restore water service to the South Rim after flash-flood damage, with Gov. Katie Hobbs saying the state would help expedite the work. A locally owned Phoenix coffee shop, Tres Leches Cafe, prepared to close after years of struggles, drawing long lines of customers saying goodbye.

These local stories unfold as Arizona continues to grapple with water constraints, data-center growth, public-records access after a recent state Supreme Court ruling, and preparations for November midterms.

Casa Grande Teen Killed at Party, Cardinals Fall in Home Opener

An 18-year-old was fatally shot outside a Casa Grande house party as police seek tips. The Cardinals lost 31-7 to Seattle in Glendale. Other weekend violence, a new school model in Peoria, and Grand Canyon water updates top Arizona news.

17GEN4.com

On this day in 2026 - 9/20/2026

Recent Posts

Comments