AUSTIN, Texas — Misael Ramos, a Democratic Socialists of America member and city council candidate in Austin, was arrested Saturday on a misdemeanor charge of participating in a riot tied to a protest over the shooting of a Venezuelan man by an immigration officer.
The arrest occurred nearly a week after Ramos took part in demonstrations on September 20, the day of the protest over the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez. Public jail records did not specify the date of the alleged rioting, but Ramos’ attorney stated the charge cited September 20 as the date of the incident.
Ramos, who is running for Austin’s city council, denied any wrongdoing and said he would contest the charge. His campaign released a statement asserting he had not engaged in riotous behavior.
‘I didn’t see any riots’
Ramos’ attorney, Edmund Skip Davis, stated in a news release that his client was accused of ‘engaging in a riot on the 20th of September,’ but maintained that the protest involved chanting and peaceful demonstration.
‘I didn’t see any riots,’ Davis said. ‘I saw people out there chanting and protesting.’
The Travis County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Ramos was booked into custody around 9:30 a.m. Saturday on the charge. A spokeswoman for the agency, Kristen Dark, stated that additional details would be provided upon request.
Protest background and community response
Garces Perez, an asylum seeker with a valid work permit, was shot during an encounter with an immigration officer and later taken to a detention center. His attorney described the incident as unjustified, and the shooting has sparked protests in Austin, including a gathering outside the Texas Capitol.
Ramos’ campaign manager, Jeffrey Clemmons, stated that Ramos had joined the protest to condemn the shooting and show solidarity, describing his actions as part of a broader effort to amplify the incident through campaign channels.
Following his release Saturday, Ramos held a news conference outside the county jail, where supporters gathered and cheered. He thanked attendees and criticized federal immigration raids in the community.
‘When we fight,’ he said, to which the crowd replied, ‘we win!’
Legal and political context
The arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny of immigration enforcement actions in Texas, a state with ongoing debates over border security and federal immigration policies. Some Democrats have criticized the shooting, while local officials have not publicly addressed the incident in detail.
Ramos’ campaign did not respond to requests for further comment on the arrest or his policy positions regarding immigration enforcement.