ICE Officer to Surrender After Houston Assault Indictment
The indictment stems from an October 10 incident in which Morales hit Miguel Parra Hernandez, a 48-year-old builder, while pursuing him through a Houston parking lot. Morales faces a felony accusation of aggravated assault involving a deadly weapon and is expected to surrender at a courthouse on November 2, 2026, his attorney said on October 31.
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare showed body-camera footage that appears to capture Morales steering sharply before hitting Parra Hernandez. The man is seen on the ground, crying out. After another ICE officer arrives, Morales says, “I was coming in, and I hit him with the car.” Surveillance footage also shows the SUV crossing a median and striking him.
Parra Hernandez broke his leg and is being held by federal authorities at a rehabilitation center. His attorney, Kim Bruno, said he sustained fractures and nerve injuries that required an operation. She said he wants accountability and assurance that the incident will not happen to others.
Morales’s attorney says the collision was accidental and argues Morales was trying to avoid hitting another vehicle. He has also accused local officials of bringing charges for political reasons. Teare said the evidence was clear, while ICE's account is that Parra Hernandez darted into the path of Morales’s vehicle.
The case comes amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Morales is among a small number of federal agents charged criminally over injuries during that effort, while other ICE shootings, including fatal ones, have not resulted in charges. The indictment will now proceed through the criminal court process.
ICE Agent’s Vehicle Strike Brings Rare Accountability
A Houston grand jury has charged an ICE officer after video showed his SUV striking a man fleeing on foot—an uncommon criminal case amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Mario Alberto Morales is expected to surrender on November 2, 2026, his attorney said on October 31.
Prosecutor Sean Teare played body-camera footage that appears to show Morales steering sharply before hitting Miguel Parra Hernandez. The 48-year-old construction worker is seen on the ground, crying out; Morales says, “I was coming in, and I hit him with the car.” Surveillance video shows the SUV crossing a median and hitting him.
Parra Hernandez broke his leg, sustained fractures and nerve injuries that required an operation, his attorney Kim Bruno said. He is being held by federal authorities at a rehabilitation center. Bruno said he wants accountability and assurance others will not be harmed in the same way.
Morales faces a felony aggravated-assault charge. His lawyer calls the collision accidental and says Morales was avoiding another vehicle, while also claiming the prosecution is politically motivated. Teare said the evidence was clear. ICE's account is that Parra Hernandez darted into the path of the vehicle.
The case stands out in a crackdown in which other ICE shootings, including fatal ones, have not led to charges against agents. The indictment now moves into the court process, where the evidence and competing accounts will be tested.
Houston Prosecutor Turns ICE Vehicle Collision Into Felony Case
A Houston prosecutor is pursuing a felony assault case against an ICE officer over a collision his attorney says was accidental, as immigration enforcement faces mounting political pressure. Mario Alberto Morales is expected to surrender on November 2, 2026, after a grand jury indictment, his lawyer said on October 31.
The charge concerns an October 10 pursuit in which Morales’s SUV struck Miguel Parra Hernandez in a parking lot. Prosecutor Sean Teare presented body-camera footage that appears to show Morales steering sharply before the impact. Morales’s lawyer says he was trying to avoid another vehicle and did not mean to hit the man.
David Lindenmuth has called the collision an accident and accused local officials of bringing charges for political reasons. Teare, by contrast, said the evidence was clear. ICE's account is that Parra Hernandez darted into the path of the vehicle. The criminal case will put those competing claims before the court.
Parra Hernandez, a 48-year-old construction worker, broke his leg and sustained fractures and nerve injuries, his attorney said. He underwent surgery and is being held by federal authorities at a rehabilitation center. His attorney says he is seeking accountability and protection for others.
The indictment is among a small number of criminal cases against federal agents for injuries during the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Other ICE shootings, including fatal incidents, have not resulted in charges. The proceeding will test whether prosecutors can establish the alleged assault beyond the defense’s claim of an unintended collision.
Reported by WTOP, ABC News, PBS NewsHour, KPRC 2 Click2Houston, FOX 26 Houston, Houston Public Media, CNN, Houston Press, The Intercept, NBC News.
