A Harris County grand jury has indicted an ICE agent following an incident in which the agent allegedly ran over a man during a pursuit. This incident occurred in early October, and the injured individual is currently recovering from surgery.
The accused, ICE officer Mario Alberto Morales, faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony under Texas law that could result in a prison sentence of 2 to 20 years. Morales, who was hired by ICE in August 2025, has not had his training records reviewed by the District Attorney’s Office.
During a press conference, authorities presented never-before-seen body camera footage of the incident, which captured Miguel Parra Hernandez on the ground in distress after being struck. Additionally, the 911 call made during the event was played for attendees.
An ICE spokesperson characterized the indictment as a politically motivated action, asserting that federal agents should only be investigated by other federal entities. The spokesperson claimed that the allegations against Morales were unfounded and emphasized that ICE officers are committed to maintaining high professional standards while enforcing the law.
In a statement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office expressed disappointment over what they perceived as politically charged actions taken by the Harris County District Attorney. They indicated that they were not consulted prior to the indictment and suggested that there was no basis for federal charges against Morales.
Morales’s attorney, David Lindenmuth, confirmed that his client is currently in Texas and plans to turn himself in on the outstanding warrant. He asserted that Morales is innocent and described the collision as an unfortunate accident rather than a criminal act.
Lindenmuth argued that Morales was engaged in an immigration enforcement operation when the incident occurred, stating that the agent was trying to prevent a collision with another vehicle while pursuing fleeing suspects.
The incident began when ICE agents attempted to intercept a truck containing two individuals. The truck reportedly traveled the wrong way down Clay Road before stopping, prompting the two men inside to flee on foot. While one escaped, Hernandez was struck by the ICE vehicle and subsequently hospitalized.
Further complicating the situation, Hernandez’s attorney has claimed that her client was not connected to the suspect ICE was pursuing, whose identity has been disputed in media reports. Allegations have surfaced that the wanted individual had been deceased for several years, raising questions about the validity of the operation.
