ICE agent charged for hitting Texas immigrant with vehicle during pursuit

October 30, 2026

A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, Mario Alberto Morales, has been indicted on felony charges for allegedly intentionally striking an undocumented Mexican immigrant with his vehicle during a pursuit in Texas on October 10th. The victim, Miguel Parra-Hernandez, who had lived in Texas for over 30 years without legal documentation and had no criminal record, sustained serious injuries including multiple leg fractures and a hip injury. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare stated that Morales was actually pursuing a different individual who had been deceased for nine years when he hit Parra-Hernandez.

Who is affected

Miguel Parra-Hernandez, the 48-year-old Mexican national who was struck by the vehicle and suffered multiple leg fractures and a hip injury
Mario Alberto Morales, the ICE agent who has been indicted on felony charges
Parra-Hernandez's family
Another occupant who fled the vehicle with Parra-Hernandez
ICE agents working in the Houston area

What action is being taken

Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare is prosecuting ICE agent Mario Alberto Morales on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
Miguel Parra-Hernandez remains hospitalized receiving treatment for his injuries
ICE is rejecting the allegations and maintaining that local authorities lack jurisdiction to investigate federal officers

Why it matters

This case represents a significant confrontation between local and federal authority over accountability for federal immigration agents' conduct. The incident highlights tensions surrounding immigration enforcement tactics during a crackdown on illegal immigration, particularly when serious injuries or deaths occur during operations. The prosecution sets a potential precedent for local authorities holding federal agents criminally accountable, which ICE strongly contests, creating a broader legal and jurisdictional conflict that could affect how immigration enforcement is conducted and overseen.

What's next

Morales faces trial on the second-degree felony charge, with a potential sentence of two to 20 years in prison if convicted
The legal dispute over whether local authorities have jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute federal officers will likely continue

Read full article from source: BBC