Mario Alberto Morales, an officer with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), surrendered in Houston after being indicted on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The indictment stems from a crash on October 10 that left a man, Miguel Parra Hernandez, with a broken leg after being hit by an ICE vehicle during a pursuit.
Morales made his court appearance on Monday morning, where his bond was set at $30,000. He was released shortly thereafter.
The incident occurred when ICE agents were pursuing a truck containing two men. According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the truck was driving in the wrong direction on Clay Road before stopping. The two men fled on foot, with one escaping while Hernandez was struck by the ICE vehicle. He was subsequently taken to a hospital for surgery and remained hospitalized as of the latest reports from District Attorney Sean Teare.
Morales faces a second-degree felony charge, which under Texas law could result in a prison sentence ranging from two to 20 years. He was among the new hires brought on by ICE in August 2025, and the District Attorney’s Office has not obtained any training records related to him.
Body camera footage released by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office depicted the moment Morales allegedly struck Hernandez. The video shows Hernandez on the ground and in distress, accompanied by a 911 call from the scene.
Defense attorney David Lindenmuth argued that Morales was attempting to apprehend a suspect when the collision occurred. He stated, “An individual was fleeing from a lawful detention. What went wrong was that this person fled, and there was a vehicle in front of Mr. Morales’s patrol vehicle, forcing him to take evasive maneuvers. This was an accident, not a crime.”
In response to the indictment, ICE issued a statement asserting that the legal action is a politically motivated maneuver by local officials.
