Texas City Council Candidate Faces Riot Participation Charge After ICE Protest

Texas Department of Public Safety officers arrested Misael Ramos, a candidate for the Austin City Council District 1, on September 26, 2026. The arrest stemmed from his alleged involvement in a protest that occurred after the shooting of a delivery driver by a federal immigration officer. Ramos faces a Class B misdemeanor charge for riot participation, though he denies any wrongdoing and plans to contest the charge. He was released on $1,000 bail the same day he was taken into custody.

Background of the Protest and Arrest

The protest where Ramos was allegedly involved took place following the September 20, 2026, shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez. Perez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan delivery driver, was shot by a federal immigration officer in North Austin. Following the incident, demonstrations began, with one protest notably blocking Research Boulevard and Anderson Square for several hours.

State officers took Ramos into custody at approximately 8:45 a.m. on September 26, 2026. Jail records indicate he was booked at about 9:30 a.m. The Texas Department of Public Safety stated that video evidence captured Ramos at the protest.

Allegations Against Misael Ramos

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, investigators have video footage showing Ramos moving construction barricades, sandbags, and other items into the street. The agency claims these actions were an attempt to obstruct traffic. A probable-cause affidavit referenced social media videos, describing Ramos as “dragging a traffic control device and sandbags to obstruct the street without the authority to do so.” The affidavit used the term “riot” to describe the events, leading to the Class B misdemeanor charge.

Ramos’s attorney, Edmund “Skip” Davis, has disputed this characterization. Davis stated that he did not witness any riots, but rather saw people chanting and protesting.

Ramos’s Response and Campaign Statement

Misael Ramos issued a statement from jail condemning his arrest. He linked the arrest to his campaign and his support for protesters, asserting his intention to continue speaking out. Ramos stated, “That these officers felt emboldened to do this to me, as a candidate on the ballot, speaks volumes to the level of impunity they feel to do this to our neighbors, who are living in fear of these kinds of abductions everyday.” He added, “We must end the terror in our communities created by the fascist administration in Washington and here in Texas – I will never stop standing up and speaking out for our community.”

His campaign manager, Jeffrey Clemmons, explained that Ramos had gone to the protest site to condemn the shooting and show solidarity. Clemmons mentioned that Ramos held the line, chanted, and amplified the incident through campaign channels. The campaign manager also suggested that Ramos might have been targeted for participating in First Amendment activities, noting that Ramos is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. Neighbors reportedly informed Clemmons that state troopers detained Ramos while he was walking his dog.

Broader Context of Protests and Arrests

The shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez sparked wider demonstrations. Reports indicate that Austin police arrested three individuals in connection with the protest on September 20, charging them with various offenses. Another account suggests that state troopers and Austin police arrested at least four people, with allegations including rioting, obstructing a highway, resisting arrest, and assault on a peace officer. Ramos was released on bail on the same day he was arrested.

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