A grand jury has indicted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Officer Mario Alberto Morales on a felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The indictment follows an incident earlier this month in Harris County, Texas, where Morales allegedly struck 48-year-old Miguel Parra-Hernandez with a vehicle. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare announced the indictment on Friday, noting that the officer could face a prison sentence of two to 20 years if convicted.
The incident occurred on Saturday, October 10, 2026, during an attempted car stop. ICE officials stated that Morales was pursuing Jose Mendoza-Cervantes, a Mexican national with a criminal record and a final removal order, who had entered a vehicle with Parra-Hernandez. Both men fled on foot after the stop was initiated. During the pursuit, Parra-Hernandez was struck by the ICE vehicle.
Surveillance footage of the incident shows the vehicle crossing a median and entering a parking lot before striking Parra-Hernandez. District Attorney Teare stated that the footage shows the man was running away from the vehicle and alleged the collision was intentional. An ICE spokesperson disputed this characterization, stating that Parra-Hernandez ran in front of the vehicle and calling allegations of intentional harm false. The agency has placed Morales on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.
This case involves a felony prosecution of a federal agent by local authorities for actions taken during a pursuit. Parra-Hernandez sustained a broken leg in three places and required two surgeries. The legal outcome for Morales carries a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years, while the internal ICE investigation will determine his future employment status.
The case involves an incident with at least four individuals: the officer, the injured man, and two witnesses who were reportedly in the back of the ICE vehicle at the time of the collision. The Harris County District Attorney’s office reported that one of these witnesses was interviewed shortly before being deported. Parra-Hernandez, whom ICE alleges is undocumented, remains in the hospital while in ICE custody; as of mid-October, he had not been charged with a crime by local law enforcement.
A conviction would involve a prison term ranging from two to 20 years under Texas law for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. ICE stated that placing the officer on administrative leave is standard for use-of-force incidents. Mendoza-Cervantes remains at large.