Texas Grand Jury Indicts ICE Officer, 33, for Running Over Immigrant in Houston

Q: Why do prosecutors say an ICE vehicle may have become a deadly weapon in the Houston chase that injured Miguel Parra Hernandez?

Prosecutors say the ICE vehicle may have become a deadly weapon because the evidence suggests it was used to strike Miguel Parra Hernandez, not merely involved in an accident. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare has said the likely charge was aggravated assault with a deadly weapon because, under Texas law, a car can qualify as a deadly weapon if it is used in a way capable of causing death or serious bodily injury. Parra Hernandez suffered major injuries, including a broken leg that required surgery, which strengthened that theory. The key evidence is surveillance video from a nearby business. Prosecutors say the footage appears to show Parra Hernandez running away through a parking lot when an ICE SUV turned the corner and hit him from behind. Officials have said the video appears inconsistent with ICE’s account that he ran in front of the vehicle and was struck unintentionally. That distinction matters legally. If the vehicle was driven toward him intentionally or recklessly during the pursuit, prosecutors can argue it was being used as a weapon. Teare publicly described the footage as appearing to show an “intentional” strike, which is why the grand jury returned an indictment for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The case is still under investigation, and ICE has disputed the allegation, maintaining the collision was accidental.

3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Oct 30

Mario Alberto Morales was indicted Friday on aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after prosecutors said he deliberately drove an SUV into Miguel Parra Hernandez on Oct. 10.
Body-camera and surveillance video reviewed by Harris County investigators showed the officer jerking the wheel left before impact, prosecutors said, contradicting ICE’s claim that Parra ran in front of the vehicle.
Parra suffered hip, leg and ankle injuries, including a broken leg, and remains in a rehab facility under ICE custody, while DHS had already placed the officer on administrative leave.
ICE called the indictment a political stunt and argued local authorities lack power to investigate federal officers, but District Attorney Sean Teare said that position is false.
The case is the first indictment of an immigration agent in Texas and adds to scrutiny of an operation in which ICE said it was pursuing Jose Mendoza-Cervantes, whom advocates say died in 2017.