An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent has been indicted after striking a migrant with an unmarked SUV and then telling the injured man, "Yeah, you got hit with a car, bro," as he writhed on the ground in pain. The incident occurred on October 10 in Houston, Texas.
Mario Alberto Morales, 33, was captured on surveillance video pursuing and hitting Miguel Parra Hernandez, 48, with his vehicle. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare stated that Parra Hernandez, a construction worker, was running away through a parking lot during the pursuit when the incident happened. Body camera footage played by Teare showed Parra Hernandez screaming in pain after being struck. Parra Hernandez could be heard telling deputies that Morales "threw the car" at him.
Morales turned himself in on Monday after a grand jury indicted him on a felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, which he has denied. Parra Hernandez sustained a broken leg and was recovering in a rehabilitation facility while in federal custody, according to Teare.
Moses's attorney, David Lindenmuth, has called the incident an "accident" and a "political smear campaign" timed ahead of the midterm elections. Lindenmuth claimed the district attorney has an agenda and is seeking media attention for the case. Teare has denied making the case political and is seeking to move the case to federal court. Morales made his first court appearance on Monday, and his bond was set at $30,000.
ICE has stated that Parra Hernandez ran in front of the vehicle, a claim Teare said is contradicted by the video evidence. Teare stated, "The evidence we have in this case is as clear as any that I've ever prosecuted or investigated."
Morales, an Enforcement and Removal Operations officer for ICE for just over a year, had previously run for Congress and served in the Army. He remains employed by ICE, though his bond conditions prohibit him from possessing firearms.
Parra Hernandez had lived in Harris County for over 30 years and reportedly had no deportation order or criminal background, according to Teare. He was reportedly in a vehicle that ICE attempted to stop. Parra Hernandez exited the vehicle and was then pursued by Morales. Morales told deputies he did not intentionally hit Parra Hernandez and did not brake, stating he was trying to avoid another truck in the parking lot. Body camera footage indicated Morales had two other suspects in his backseat at the time, though he reportedly told deputies there were no other individuals inside the vehicle.
ICE identified Jose Mendoza-Cervantes as the target of the operation, stating he was seen entering a vehicle with Parra Hernandez. However, Mendoza-Cervantes' daughter told immigrant rights group FIEL that her father has been deceased since 2017. Teare's office stated its investigation did not find evidence that Parra Hernandez and Mendoza-Cervantes were in a vehicle together.
In a separate incident, ICE agent Jonathan Ross was involved in the fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minnesota on January 7. Good was killed while driving in an area where federal immigration officers were conducting an operation. Bystander video showed Good's car blocking part of the road as she honked her horn. Two officers exited a truck and approached her vehicle. Her partner reportedly shouted for her to drive away. An officer then fired into her windshield, and two more shots followed, killing her. Federal officials stated the officer acted in self-defense, while her family has filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful death and conspiracy.