AUSTIN, Texas – A Texas city council candidate named Misael Ramos was arrested on Saturday morning due to a misdemeanor charge for “riot participation.” This arrest is linked to his actions during a protest that took place against the shooting of a Venezuelan man by a federal immigration officer.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) took Ramos, who is 40 years old, into custody around 8:45 a.m. on an outstanding warrant. This warrant arose from his involvement in a protest that occurred the previous Sunday, where demonstrators were expressing their outrage over the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez in Austin.
According to the DPS, Ramos was seen on camera taking construction barricades, sandbags, and other items in an attempt to block traffic. The agency also shared photos and videos purportedly showing Ramos’ actions during the protest.
Ramos, who is affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America, has denied any wrongdoing and plans to contest the charge. His attorney, Edmund “Skip” Davis, stated, “I didn’t see any riots. I saw people out there chanting and protesting.”
After his release, Ramos held a news conference outside the county jail, where he was greeted with cheers from supporters. He expressed gratitude for their presence and described the morning as “one of the craziest” he had experienced. Ramos took the opportunity to criticize federal immigration raids in the local community, emphasizing that community members were shocked by the shooting incident.
Garces Perez was shot during an encounter with an immigration officer after he was delivering food for DoorDash. His attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, claimed that ICE officers in an unmarked truck had sideswiped his car before the shooting occurred. Following the incident, Garces Perez was taken to a hospital and then released to ICE custody with a bullet still lodged in his back. ICE and the Department of Homeland Security have not provided detailed information about the shooting, only stating that Garces Perez was “the subject of a targeted vehicle stop.”
Ramos’ campaign manager, Jeffrey Clemmons, highlighted that Ramos joined the protest to condemn the shooting and show solidarity with the community. The protest aimed to amplify the message of the incident, reflecting the feelings of many Austinites who were disturbed by the event.
This situation underscores ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and community relations. As the case unfolds, many are watching closely to see how the legal proceedings will impact both Ramos’ political campaign and the broader dialogue about immigration policies in Texas.
___
Rankin reported from Richmond, Virginia.
