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ICE agent indicted for hitting Houston immigrant with SUV during chase
Houston Chronicle • • general
Key Points:
- Harris County grand jury indicted ICE agent Mario Alberto Morales on aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for hitting immigrant Miguel Parra Hernandez with his SUV during a chase in Houston on Oct. 10, causing a broken leg.
- This is one of the rare instances where a state prosecutor has charged a federal immigration officer; District Attorney Sean Teare emphasized that law enforcement officers will be held accountable regardless of their agency.
- Morales' attorney claims the crash was accidental and accuses the DA's office of a politically motivated prosecution, while federal authorities declined to pursue charges after their own review.
- Body camera and surveillance footage released by the DA's office show Morales aggressively steering into Parra Hernandez, who was running on foot, contradicting the agent’s claim that the collision was unintended.
- The case follows other recent legal actions involving ICE agents and comes amid ongoing investigations into ICE-related shootings and enforcement practices in Texas.
